Key Concepts in Applied Linguistics and Language Studies

Key Concepts in Language Studies

Bilingualism

Bilingualism is commonly defined as the use of at least two languages by an individual.

Multilingualism

Multilingualism is the use of two or more languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers.

Second Language Acquisition

This is the process by which people learn a second language. It also refers to the scientific discipline devoted to studying that process.

Contrastive Linguistics

This is a practice-oriented linguistic approach that seeks to describe the differences and similarities between a pair of languages.

Conversation Analysis

This is an approach to the study of social interaction, embracing both verbal and non-verbal conduct in everyday life.

Language Pedagogy

Language education may take place as a general school subject, in a specialized language school, or out of school with a rich selection of proprietary methods online and in books, CDs, and DVDs. There are many methods of teaching languages; some have fallen into relative obscurity, others are widely used, and some offer useful insights.

Language Planning and Policies

This is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language varieties within a speech community.

Literacies

This generally refers to new forms of literacy made possible by digital technology developments.

Lexicography

Lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries. It is also the scholarly discipline of analyzing and describing the semantic, syntagmatic, and paradigmatic relationships within the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language.

Language Assessment

This is a field of study under the umbrella of applied linguistics. Its main focus is the assessment of first, second, or other languages in school, college, or university contexts; assessment of language use in the workplace; and assessment of language in immigration, citizenship, and asylum contexts.

Discourse Analysis

This is a general term for a number of approaches used to analyze written, vocal, or sign language use or any significant semiotic event.

Translation

The process of turning an original or "source" text into a text in another language.

Pragmatics

Pragmatics is a subfield of linguistics and semiotics which studies the ways in which context contributes to meaning.

Computer-Mediated Communication

This is defined as any human communication that occurs through the use of two or more electronic devices.