Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No.

1 Januari-Juni 2016

APPLIED LINGUISTICS AND EDUCATIONAL LINGUISTICS

Santi Andriyani
Islamic University of Nahdlatul Ulama` Jepara
Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
People who live in the word know that language is a part of tool to communicate each other
in interaction. It deals with the human need of language that such as culture that must be
increased and improved in that life. Language takes a part in human life specially in
linguistics, either in educational field ( educational linguistics) or in applied linguistics.
It is very important to have a good understanding about the concept of applied linguistics
and educational linguistics. Both of them are almost similar but they are actually different.
By having knowledge about them, we can differentiate and make relationship between them.
So that’s why, here the writers try to make a brief summary about applied linguistics and
educational linguistics.

Keywords : linguistics, applied and educational linguistics.

INTRODUCTION the discussion, the writers present a brief

This short paper is aimed to give a summary of what linguistics is.
summary on applied linguistics and
educational linguistics. The topics that will DISCUSSION
be covered in this paper are varied. Among In this part, the writers present some
them are: what applied linguistics and discussion on what linguistics is, what
educational linguistics are, the relationship, applied linguistics is, what educational
the similarity and difference between them, linguistics is, the relation between applied
and also the scope of each of the two linguistics and educational linguistics, why
disciplines. education needs linguistics theory, the
However, before starting talking about similarity between applied linguistics and
those topics, the writers would like to begin educational linguistics, the difference
the discussion with some definitions of between applied linguistics and educational
linguistics offered by experts. It is because linguistics, the scope of applied linguistics,
when one talks about applied linguistics or and the scope of educational linguistics. To
educational linguistics, he or she could not begin with, the following is expert’s
ignore the concept of linguistics and that he definition of linguistics.
or she should have a clear idea of what
linguistics is. Therefore, in the first part of
 Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No. 1 Januari-Juni 2016

 Definition of Linguistics  the study of language and

In defining the term, experts had linguistics in relation to practical
come to different ideas of what problems, such as lexicography,
linguistics is. Richard and Schmidt translation, speech pathology, etc.
(2002), for example, defined linguistics Applied linguistics uses
<< | 26 as “the study of language as a system of information from sociology,
human communication”. They further psychology, anthropology, and
stated that linguistics includes many information theory as well as from
different approaches to the study of linguistics in order to develop its
language and many different areas of own theoretical models of
investigation, for example sound language and language use, and
systems (phonetics phonology), sentence then uses this information and
structure (syntax), relationships between theory in practical areas such as
language and cognition (cognitive syllabus design, speech therapy,
linguistics), meaning systems language planning, stylistics, etc.
(semantics, pragmatics, functions of b. Brumfit (1997) stated that applied
language), as well as language and linguistics is “the theoretical and
social factors (sociolinguistics). Then, empirical investigation of real-world
several specialized branches of problems in which language is a
linguistics have also developed in central issue”.
combination with other disciplines, e.g. c. Kridalaksana (2008) defined applied
applied linguistics, anthropological linguistics as “istilah umum bagi
linguistics, psycholinguistics, forensic pelbagai cabang linguistik yang
linguistics. memanfaatkan deskripsi, metode dan
From this definition, then, one can hasil penelitian linguistik untuk
say that linguistics is a field of study that pelbagai keperluan praktis; cabang-
concerns with language. In the other cabang seperti pengajaran bahasa,
words, linguistics is the scientific study leksikografi, penerjemahan, patologi
of language. As it is concerned with bahasa, dsb.termasuk dalam
language, then, the object of its study linguistik terapan”.
will be things that are related to From those definitions, then, one can
language, such as: sound system, infer that applied linguistics is the
sentence structure, meaning, and other engineering of linguistics. In the other
language components. words, applied linguistics is using
 Definition of Applied Linguistics linguistics to solve practical problems.
The following are some definitions of  Definition of Educational Linguistics
applied linguistics offered by experts: The following are some definitions of
a. Richards and Schmidt (2002) in educational linguistics offered by some
Dictionary of Language Teaching & experts:
Applied Linguistics defined applied a. Hornberger and Spolsky (in Spolsky
linguistics as: and Hult 2008) defined educational
 the study of second and foreign linguistics as “an area of study that
language learning and teaching. integrates the research tools of
linguistics and other related

Santi Andriyani
 Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No. 1 Januari-Juni 2016

disciplines of the social sciences in concept is strengthened by Blumfit’s

order to investigate holistically the theory which states that “educational
broad range of issues related to linguistics is inevitably a sub-branch of
language and education”. applied linguistics, the study of language
b. Richards and Schmidt (2002) in in real-world situations where the
Dictionary of Language Teaching & problems and conventions are defined 27 | >>
Applied Linguistics defined by non-linguists, whether the general
educational linguistics as “a term public or language professionals such as
sometimes used to refer to a branch (e.g.) teachers or translators”.
of applied linguistics which deals  Why Education Needs Linguistics
with the relationship between Theory
language and education. Spolsky and Hult (2008) stated that
c. Christie and Unsworth stated there are two main arguments for
“educational linguistics is concerned teaching KAL (knowledge about
with the study of language in language). They are:
teaching and learning”. As such, it a. A deeper understanding of language
has interests in the nature of the deserves a place in any liberal
linguistic system and its role in curriculum because of its long-term
learning, as well as in what kinds of intellectual benefits; if it is important
knowledge about language should be for children to understand their
taught to children. bodies and their social environment,
d. Kridalaksana (2008) defined it is at least as important for them to
educational linguistics as “penerapan understand the faculty which makes
linguistik dalam pengajaran dan social life possible.
pembelajaran bahasa di sekolah atau b. KAL improves the language skills of
di lingkungan lain”. writing, reading, speaking and
From those definitions, one may say that listening.
educational linguistics is the application The other reasons:
of linguistics to solve problems in a. Language is mostly learned from
education. Similarly, educational experience of usage rather than
linguistics is using linguistics to solve inherited genetically.
practical problems in education. b. Language is fundamental to every
 Relation between Applied Linguistics subject, and not just to those subjects
and Educational Linguistics where it is the primary object of
From the definitions of applied study.
linguistics and educational linguistics Next, Blumfit stated that the individual
above, one may underline that the contribution that linguists can make to
relation between applied linguistics and educational work is twofold. First, they
educational linguistics lies in the fact can provide technical understanding
that applied linguistics is the precursors deriving from linguistic, psycho- or
of educational linguistics. In other socio-linguistic research to address
words, applied linguistics is wider than educational problems, or to enable
educational linguistics or it is the educational practitioners to become
umbrella of educational linguistics. This more proficient in addressing them

Santi Andriyani
 Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No. 1 Januari-Juni 2016

themselves. Second, they can contribute which is why Bernard Spolsky

by collaborating with colleagues, or by defined a new field that could be
themselves operating both as linguistic considered a subfield within the
and as educational researchers and larger discipline of AL in its wider
teachers, understanding the inevitable sense the scope of EL under this
<< | 28 "messiness" of classroom and broader definition is fairly wide, ranging from
educational practice, in which so many issues such as ‘vernacular dialect use
agendas are competing for attention in at school’ to ‘second language
limited space. phonological acquisition’ and
 The Similarity between Applied ‘teacher training in linguistics’.
Linguistics and Educational  Spolsky now views EL’s core task as
Linguistics “providing the instruments for
The similarity between applied designing language policy and for
linguistics and educational linguistics implementing language education
lies on the fact that both applied management” (Spolsky 2008: 3).
linguistics and educational linguistics  At the University of Giessen, EL
concern with linguistics in relation with focuses on the conceptual and
real-life problems or with language in methodological combination of
relation to practical problems. However, linguistic and language-pedagogical
educational linguistics is narrower than research with regard to socially
applied linguistics because it only deals relevant issues and questions related
with the study of language in relation to to education and teaching.
teaching and learning. Whereas applied  The Scope of Applied Linguistics
linguistics may include other things Experts agreed that applied
beside teaching and learning matters. linguistics is a broad and macro-level
 The Difference between Applied term that includes many areas of
Linguistics and Educational concern. Brumfit (in Liddicoat 2010)
Linguistics stated that “applied linguistics is a
The following are some differences theoretical and empirical investigation
between Applied Linguistics and of real world problems in which
Educational Linguistics offered by some language is a central issue “. Therefore,
experts: the combination of language and real
 Researchers suggest that educational world problems is the constituent feature
linguistics is to be separated from AL of applied linguistics. The following
(cf. Hornberger 2001; Hult 2008; table shows some activities which have
Spolsky 2008). been included under the umbrella of
 Not all interests in AL are thus applied linguistics (based on AILA
necessarily tied to educational issues, scientific commissions):

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 Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No. 1 Januari-Juni 2016

Adult language learning Language and the media

Child language Language contact and language change
Communication in the professions Language for special purposes
Contrastive linguistics and error analysis Language planning
Discourse analysis Learner autonomy in language learning
Educational technology and language Lexicography and lexicology 29 | >>
learning Literacy
Evaluation, assessment, and testing Mother tongue education
Foreign language teaching methodology and Psycholinguistics
teacher education Rhetoric and stylistics
Forensic linguistics Second language acquisition
Immersion education Sign language
Interpreting and translating Language and gender
Language and business
Language and ecology
Language and education in multilingual
settings

Next, Spolsky (in Davies 2007) formulation of language education

stated “applied linguistics (is now) a policy and to its implementation.
cover term for sizeable group of semi- b. Hornberger stated that educational
autonomous disciplines, each dividing linguistics specializes itself on issues
its parentage and allegiances between in linguistic and cultural diversity and
the formal study of language and other approaches to language learning and
relevant fields, and each working to teaching that embraces local,
develop its own methodologies and national, and international interests.
principles.” Then, he also said that educational
From those ideas, then, it can be linguistics include second language
inferred that the scope of applied acquisition, language choice,
linguistics is really broad or that it may maintenance and shift, language and
cover a lot of things such as: language ethnicity, descriptive analysis of
technology, language teaching, speech acts and discourse,
education, language acquisition, educational implications of
translation, language policy, and many linguistics diversity, language
other things. planning, bilingual education, spoken
 The Scope of Educational Linguistics interaction in professional setting,
The following are some explanation of and biliteracy.
the scope of educational linguistics From those ideas, one can conclude that
proposed by some experts: educational linguistics will begin to
a. Spolsky (1972) stated that work with teachers and it will look at
educational linguistics is a discipline how language works in education, how
whose primary task would be to offer language works in a multilingual
information relevant to the education environment, how people

Santi Andriyani
 Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 3. No. 1 Januari-Juni 2016

acquire language of the disciplines and understand some concepts of the two fields
other things in education. of study.
Finally, the writers realize that this
CONCLUSION paper still needs to be improved in order
Those are some discussion on applied to make it more comprehensible and
<< | 30 linguistics and educational linguistics. informative. For that reason, both of the
Hopefully, the explanation presented in this writers are open for suggestion and
paper would help the readers to get a brief criticism from the whole readers, so that
description of applied linguistic and they can improve the quality of this
educational linguistics, and also help them to paper.

REFERENCES
Davies, Alan. 2007. An Introduction to Applied Linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press Ltd.

Kridalaksana, Harimurti. 2008. Kamus Linguistik. Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Liddicoat, Anthony J. 2010. Applied Linguistics in Its Disciplinary Context. Monash: Monash
University Express.

Richards, Jack C. and Richard Schmidt. 2002. Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied
Linguistics. London: Longman.

Spolsky, B. and Hult, F.M. 2008. The Handbook of Educational Linguistics. Victoria:
Blackwell Publishing.

Internet sources:
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/~hornberg/papers/EdLxFieldWPELv172001.pdf
web.uam.es/departamentos/filoyletras/.../ChristieUnsworth05.doc

Santi Andriyani