Kaplan, Robert B. (ed.), The Oxford handbook of applied linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Pp. x, 641. Hb $74.00.

Extract

Since graduate school, I have seen applied linguistics (AL) treated by too many of my professors and colleagues as the bastard child of “real” linguistics – accused of being too interdisciplinary, too pedagogically oriented, and lacking in an all-encompassing theoretical framework. Sadly, even those practicing AL are sometimes apologetic or defensive about their supposed faults. In some ways, this book represents a coming-out party, a celebration of accomplishments and directions for future research and involvement.