What is the Difference Between Linguistics and Applied Linguistics?

Linguistics and applied linguistics are related fields that study human language, but they differ in their focus and applications.

Linguistics is the scientific study of language, its structure, and development. It encompasses various subareas such as phonology, semantics, morphology, and pragmatics. Linguists primarily deal with succinct explanations and descriptions of language. Some branches of linguistics include sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, dialectology, comparative linguistics, and structural linguistics.

Applied Linguistics, on the other hand, focuses on the practical application of linguistics. It explores and offers solutions to language-related problems in real-world situations, such as language acquisition, literacy, and translation. Applied linguistics is concerned with the effective use and propagation of language and draws upon insights from various fields, including linguistics, psychology, and sociology. It includes a wider range of practical applications that rely on knowledge from different fields, making it vital for solving problems in the real world and improving teaching, translation, and communication.

In summary, the main difference between linguistics and applied linguistics is that linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, while applied linguistics focuses on the practical applications of language and the solutions it provides to real-world language problems.

Comparative Table: Linguistics vs Applied Linguistics

Here is a table comparing the differences between linguistics and applied linguistics:

In summary, linguistics is the study of language structure and its various aspects, while applied linguistics focuses on using linguistic theories to solve real-world language problems and improve language teaching practices.