LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 26:7 July 2026
ISSN 1930-2940

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         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
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Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice: The Role of Applied Linguistics

Dr. Muhammedali Chalikandy Puthiyapurayi, Ph.D.

Abstract

Linguistic theories provide valuable insights into the nature and structure of language. The relationship between linguistic theory and practice has always been a major concern in language studies. This paper examines the role of applied linguistics in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and language related practices. Applied linguistics is a dynamic field of study linking linguistic theory with practical use of language in real life contexts. The main task of applied linguistics is to transform abstract linguistic theories and concepts into effective concrete practical techniques and strategies to address and solve language related issues and problems in varied real-world contexts. Over the years, applied linguistics has emerged as an important interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subject that connects theory to practical applications in varied areas such as language teaching and learning, translation, discourse analysis, stylistics, forensic linguistics, language policy, bilingualism, multilingualism and communication.

Keywords:linguistic theory, practice, applied linguistics, language use

Introduction

Language plays the key role in all domains of life and it is central in communication, education, culture, interaction, trade and business, science and technology and so on. Linguistics focuses on understanding how language works, whereas applied linguistics is concerned with applying linguistic knowledge and theories to practical issues related to language use in real life contexts. In the early stages, applied linguistics dealt with language learning and teaching. Gradually, it has evolved into a significant interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary area of study connecting theory to practice covering wide range of areas of study like language teaching and learning, translation, discourse analysis, stylistics, forensic linguistics, language policy, bilingualism, multilingualism and communication. This article examines how applied linguistics bridges the gap between linguistic theory and its practical application in various real-life contexts.

Linguistics

Linguistics is “the scientific study of language… (whose goal) is the construction of a general theory of the structure of language or of a general theoretical framework for the description of languages” (Ivic et al., 2026). It deals with the form, meaning, and content of language (Mukherjee, 2022). Linguistics also examines the origin of language, its history, structure, meaning, acquisition, use and changes happened over the years and happening now. The main purpose of linguistics is to study language objectively and to understand the nature of language as an abstract system. “Like any discipline, linguistics looks for generalities underlying actual appearances, and so in some degree is bound to represent an abstract idealization of language rather than the way it is experienced in the real world” (G. Cook, 2003, p. 9). Interestingly, the abstract nature of linguistics became one of the reasons for the emergence of applied linguistics.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Muhammedali Chalikandy Puthiyapurayi, Ph.D.
Asssistant Professor and Research Supervisor
Department of English
B S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
Vandalur, Chennai
mchalikandy@gmail.com

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