Five generations of applied linguistics: some framework issues

Abstract

English: In recent years a number of discussions have sustained the debate on the definition of applied linguistics, a debate which addresses both ends of the spectrum of applied linguistic work: the philosophical and the practical. This paper attempts to situate its response to such (re)considerations within an interpretative framework, considering the conception of the discipline as it has evolved over five generations. The argument of the paper is that the many and varied understandings of applied linguistic work during this period confirm the relativity of the discipline and prevent its practitioners from entertaining the illusion that, because they are involved in 'applied science', their particular response to a language problem will provide a full and finite solution.Afrikaans: 'n Aantal onlangse besprekings sit die debat oor die definisie van die toegepaste taalkunde voort. Die diskussie strek oor beide kante van die spektrum van toegepaste taalkundige week: die filosofiese en die praktiese. Hierdie artikel poog om die diskussie te plaas in 'n raamwerk waarin dit vertolk kan word, en skets die geskiedenis van die dissipline deur die ontwikkeling daarvan deur vyf vorms (of opeenvolgende geslagte) te volg. Die argument is dat die verskeidenheid gestaltes wat die toegepaste taalkunde aangeneem het, 'n aaduiding is van die relatiwiteit van die dissipline. Hierdie relatiwiteit behoort beoefenaars te verhoed om te glo dat, aangesien hulle 'toegepaste wetenskap' beoefen, hulle ontwerpe altyd genoegsame oplossings vir taalprobleme sal bied.