Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice

The Journal of Applied Linguistcs was launched in 2004 to share research into language that was firmly rooted in ‘real world problems’. It encouraged an interdiscplinary approach to linguistics, but had a strong focus on research into language teaching and learning; second language acqusition; and the education profession. There is a really interesting article that appeared in the journal in 2009 by Deborah Cameron that challenges new biologism as a way of explaining male-female differences in language behaviour. The full text of Deborah Cameron’s article ‘Sex/Gender, Language and the New Biologism’ can be downloaded for free.

This year there is an exciting new development in the area of applied linguistics with the relaunch of this journal as the Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. The new title for the journal aims to illustrate the expansion and development in the field of applied linguistics from a mainly educational base (although this will remain a strong focus) to research and practice in other professional areas such as journalism, healthcare, counselling, business translating and interpreting. This new journal will actively promote and critique applied linguistics as professional practice and encourage debate around key themes and methodological approaches. You can access the site for the new journal.

The first interdisciplinary conference for ‘Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice’ will be held at Cardiff University (23 – 24 June, 2011). There is a special focus on ‘cross-boundary collaboration and translation of research findings to ensure impact’. The details of the conference can be found at this website.

This is an inaugural conference linking with the relaunch of the applied linguistics journal as the Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice.