Linguistics is a comparatively large field of study, one that encompasses a variety of different approaches towards both analyzing and applying language. The English linguistics, in particular, have come to be known as considerably well-established, researched and discussed in the academic circles. However, the amount of materials currently present on the different subjects inside the larger field of linguistics does not mean that there are no potential areas of improvement, development or conversation. On the contrary, the presence of an active discussion allows both specialists and enthusiasts to contribute in further studying linguistics, as well as finding theoretical and practical applications for them. This particular work will be focusing on the use of linguistic knowledge in the daily lives of people. Usually, the study of language primarily occupies the theoretical realm, and the focus on practical solutions, therefore, is especially interesting to consider. First, the choice of topic and its rationale will be discussed, as a way to properly establish the tone and limitations of the conversation. Afterwards, the specific object of the study is going to be analyzed, helping to narrow down the focus of the work. The last two sections will be dedicated to explaining the theoretical background of the subject and the personal beliefs of the author.
Rationale for the Subject
The practical application for linguistics has been chosen as the primary theme of this paper. In general, many humanitarian fields and subjects are commonly considered “useless”, for their lack of a clear practical application, or a heavy emphasis on theory and discussion. It is important for scholars and students to understand that linguistics is a constantly evolving subject of study, one that has a deep connection to society and the way it operated. Humans use language for verbal communication, and additionally can utilize it in a variety of ways to enhance their life. Society is run through the never-ending process of communication, one that includes various types of interaction between people. Due to the inability to separate humanity from communication, the necessity to improve ways of interacting with one another, transform language and adjust it with the passage of time becomes increasingly clear. Linguistics, and English linguistics in particular have a big role to play in this process. From a scientific standpoint, finding and improving the application of linguistics in the lives of people is also important, as it serves a number of purposes. Firstly, it enhances the importance of linguistics as a field in the public sphere, attracting more funding, interest and talent to this topic of discussion. Secondly, it has much potential to trigger innovation in the area. With the current and constant advancement in the public sphere, especially in the fields of education, social justice and politics, the application and use of linguistics becomes more diverse as well.
Personally, I find the topic to be interesting for a variety of reasons as well. I feel that discussions similar to this one have great potential to enact change in society, or push it in the right direction. People of the more recent generations desperately want to see change, to improve the world around them or change some of its long-staying customs. I think that the study of language and its insights can be especially efficiently used to bring the kinds of changes people want. Making sure that more individuals are able to learn, improve themselves and inspire others, that is something I consider worthwhile.
Incardination of the Topic in Linguistics
While the general benefits of applying linguistics to the real world have been brought up, the specific focus of this discussion is yet to be determined. One of the most widespread uses for linguistics is in education, where both theoretic and practical sides of the field shine most. With each year, the effects of globalization become more widespread, and many people move around the globe for different reasons. This means, that, much more people are starting to learn English as their second language, coming from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Both adults and children settle in English-speaking nations, or require to learn English for their occupation.
This means that teachers and other educators have to find increasingly more convenient and effective ways of teaching language to others. In many cases, the process entails the introduction of linguistics or language theory into their arsenal. Linguistics is important for study, as it introduces the necessary historical, cultural and evolutionary contexts into the discussion, helping people better understand how English works. Additionally, linguistics has a big potential in improving how language is taught and understood by people, which is a process most important to learning. As the study of language, its history, development and rules, I think that the application of linguistics in teaching may be one of the most important aims of this field. It serves both a practical and theoretic purpose, allowing further discussions to be formed and spread out into the world, while also bringing substantial benefit to society. Allowing individuals to better learn English introduces them to the culture and lifestyle of English-speaking countries, enhances their understanding of the world and has a considerable potential to improve their economic status.
Theoretical Support
Theoretically, there has been much support towards bringing linguistics into the educational sphere, and it is currently considered one of the most important cross-disciplinary disciplines for a teacher to be familiar with. It has had a prolonged history of being considered important to the field, however, the actual application of linguistic competencies towards improving education has been scarce. Many professionals in both fields did not interact, while having similar competencies and goals (Spolsky, 1974). Academic sources highlighted the crucial role linguistics plays in education, and how it can be a transformative force towards improving the language learning experience. An important aspect of teaching that linguistics can boost comes in the form of Reflective Teaching, a strategy aimed at improving the way people understand and retain information learned. As an approach, it involves two primary steps – learning and reflection.
First, an audience is introduced to a subject, or are instructed to perform some specific task. Then after the action is complete, the educator initiates a discussion regarding what was done, as a way to provide the necessary context and background to learners. This approach towards teaching incorporates both theoretical and practical benefits of linguistics, as it uses language theory to teach and explain how language works. Solutions towards applying this strategy towards education and most effectively using linguistics are outlined in such books as Farrell’s (2018) Reflective language teaching: Practical applications for TESOL teachers. It and works similar to this one use the principles of linguistics to enhance the ways in which language is taught, and improve the competencies of teachers. Additionally, sources such as Gultom (2017), contend that the process of teaching individuals English requires the context and knowledge in a number of other adjacent disciplines. “Psychology, education- cognitive science, anthropology” are all named to be crucial to the process, among potentially other competencies students will need to develop (Gultom, 2017 pp.1). Therefore, the use of linguistics helps teachers to introduce the necessary theoretical base to their students, while also staying rooted in their primary subject.
Research has also been able to surmise that different education strategies incorporating linguistics are seen as effective in today’s environment. In particular, blended learning that uses both in-person and online teaching benefits from the use of linguistics greatly, allowing students to retain and use information regarding speech, writing, listening and other important aspects of English (Sholihah et al., 2021). In learning, the importance of emotional connection has also been pointed out, which can help students better relate to the material and retain information (White, 2018). In combination with linguistics, emotional teaching presents many new opportunities to teachers and professionals.
As established previously, language education, and, by extension, linguistics, can bring many benefits to people and their wellness. Many people are encouraged to learn more than one language, with English being the primary subject of interest (Ramírez-Esparza et al., 2020). In terms of potential benefits, a considerable body of work has been put forward regarding the effectiveness and benefits that language learning can bring to individuals (Sharipova et al., 2019). Especially in the case of people learning English as their second language, the process has a lot of advantages. For the individuals moving into the United States, for example, the ability to understand and practice English is both culturally and economically invaluable(Gándara, 2018). Firstly, it has been shown that people knowing two or more languages are likely to have bigger income levels, which is a necessity in the present world (Berrospi, 2020). The number of people exceling in their niches around the world increases with time, and individuals must develop as many competencies as possible as a way to have an edge over their professional competition. Therefore, learning English quickly, efficiently and effectively can help people earn more money. On a similar note, learning a second language also can give one a head start when finding a job, as more opportunities are present to the person (Durga, 2018). The labor market constantly shifts towards preferring candidates with more skills and competencies, giving advantages to those that are able to speak multiple languages (Poot et al., 2021). The outlined positives are just a few among many others, most of which center on improving the quality of life and the probability of good outcomes for individuals.
Personal Prediction
Personally, I think the expansion of linguistics in assisting education and learning has a big potential, for both fields. A number of articles and journals have discussed the benefits of finding ways to merge linguistics and education, and many benefits are evident (Linguistics and language learning 2019). As a practice, it can help more people achieve better results in their life, find good jobs with stable income and secure a livelihood for themselves and their family. For teachers and educators, it can be an effective tool for improving their work performance, and constantly improving the field. Linguists can find a number of advantages towards this process too, as their discipline will receive more attention and funding from the government. The process of intersecting various humanitarian fields and using their knowledge for the public good is beneficial to the public discourse and the continuous process of societal growth.
References
Berrospi, G. (2020). Council post: How being bilingual can increase your income. Forbes.
Durga, S. (2018). The need of English language skills for employment opportunities. Web.
Farrell, T. (2018). Reflective language teaching: Practical applications for Tesol teachers. Bloomsbury Academic.
Gultom, E. (2017). Linguistics and English language teaching. Web.
Linguistics and language learning. The Linguist. (2019).
Poot, J., Cochrane, B., Cameron, M., & Alimi, O. B. (2021). Labor markets, migration, and mobility essays in honor of Jacques Poot. Springer.
Ramírez-Esparza, N., García-Sierra, A., & Jiang, S. (2020). The current standing of bilingualism in today’s Globalized World: A socio-ecological perspective. Current Opinion in Psychology, 32, 124–128.
Sharipova, D., Xushboqova, N., Eshpo’Latova, M., Toshmurodova, M., Shakirova, D., & Toshova, D. (2019). Bilingualism as a Main Communication Factor for Integration Among Nations in Transoxiana, Modern Uzbekistan. International Journal on Integrated Education. Web.
Sholihah, H. I., Hidayat, A. W., Srinawati, W., Syakhrani, A. W., & Khasanah, K. (2021). What linguistics advice on teaching English as a foreign language learning using blended learning system. Linguistics and Culture Review, 5(1), 342–351.
White, C. J. (2018). The emotional turn in Applied Linguistics and Tesol: Significance, challenges and prospects. Emotions in Second Language Teaching, 19–34.