British Association for Applied Linguistics
Encyclopedia
The British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) is an academic
society for professional applied linguists
, language
teachers and other interested parties, based in the United Kingdom
. It organises regular meetings of its 800-plus members at various venues in the UK, publishes conference proceedings, issues a regular newsletter and awards student scholarship
s. Its current Chair is Susan Hunston, Professor of English language
at the University of Birmingham
.
BAAL's Annual Meeting is held every September in the UK; in 2008, for example, the Association is set to convene at Swansea University
. Representatives also attend international conferences, and BAAL is affiliated with the Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquee (International Association of Applied Linguistics, AILA). In the UK, it is a registered charity. Meetings usually have a theme; for example, the 40th conference at the University of Edinburgh
focused on 'Technology, Ideology and Practice in Applied Linguistics'.
The Association is regularly consulted over linguistic issues and language teaching in the UK, but has stopped short of active political
lobbying; it remains a primarily academic institution, despite occasional forays into campaigning.
and particularly in its practical application - for example, in language teaching and learning
. A group of theoretical linguists, educators and other professionals using language "as a tool" would establish much-need cross-disciplinary contacts; also, deepening European integration
at the time meant that there was a need for high-quality language teaching across the continent.
BAAL's creation was the result of a proposal by Peter Strevens, the Chair in Applied Linguistics at the University of Essex
. At a preliminary meeting of interested parties at Birkbeck College
in July 1965, a narrower remit was discussed than the wider set of issues that the Association would concern itself with; initially, it was suggested that it might focus on language teaching and machine translation
, but the first full meeting in 1967 in Reading, Berkshire
agreed to broaden the scope. BAAL emerged as the UK affiliate of AILA, with S. Pit Corder its first Chair. Membership was narrowly defined in the early years, as BAAL wished to develop a reputation as a learned society rather than a teachers' meeting; however, a feeling that the Association could afford to widen recruitment was apparent by the early 1970s. In 1985, a requirement for formal qualifications, already flexible, was dropped; and today anyone can join. In 1980, the Association also began to publish a journal, Applied Linguistics.
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
society for professional applied linguists
Applied linguistics
Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language-related real-life problems...
, language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
teachers and other interested parties, based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It organises regular meetings of its 800-plus members at various venues in the UK, publishes conference proceedings, issues a regular newsletter and awards student scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s. Its current Chair is Susan Hunston, Professor of English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
.
BAAL's Annual Meeting is held every September in the UK; in 2008, for example, the Association is set to convene at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
. Representatives also attend international conferences, and BAAL is affiliated with the Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquee (International Association of Applied Linguistics, AILA). In the UK, it is a registered charity. Meetings usually have a theme; for example, the 40th conference at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
focused on 'Technology, Ideology and Practice in Applied Linguistics'.
The Association is regularly consulted over linguistic issues and language teaching in the UK, but has stopped short of active political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
lobbying; it remains a primarily academic institution, despite occasional forays into campaigning.
History
The association first convened in the 1960s, as interest increased in the new science of modern linguisticsLinguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
and particularly in its practical application - for example, in language teaching and learning
Language acquisition
Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive, produce and use words to understand and communicate. This capacity involves the picking up of diverse capacities including syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary. This language might be vocal as with...
. A group of theoretical linguists, educators and other professionals using language "as a tool" would establish much-need cross-disciplinary contacts; also, deepening European integration
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
at the time meant that there was a need for high-quality language teaching across the continent.
BAAL's creation was the result of a proposal by Peter Strevens, the Chair in Applied Linguistics at the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
. At a preliminary meeting of interested parties at Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
in July 1965, a narrower remit was discussed than the wider set of issues that the Association would concern itself with; initially, it was suggested that it might focus on language teaching and machine translation
Machine translation
Machine translation, sometimes referred to by the abbreviation MT is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of computer software to translate text or speech from one natural language to another.On a basic...
, but the first full meeting in 1967 in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
agreed to broaden the scope. BAAL emerged as the UK affiliate of AILA, with S. Pit Corder its first Chair. Membership was narrowly defined in the early years, as BAAL wished to develop a reputation as a learned society rather than a teachers' meeting; however, a feeling that the Association could afford to widen recruitment was apparent by the early 1970s. In 1985, a requirement for formal qualifications, already flexible, was dropped; and today anyone can join. In 1980, the Association also began to publish a journal, Applied Linguistics.
External links
- British Association for Applied Linguistics - official site
- Applied Linguistics - journal published by Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, in collaboration with BAAL, the American Association for Applied LinguisticsAmerican Association for Applied LinguisticsThe American Association for Applied Linguistics is an American organization, founded in 1977, of scholars interested in applied linguistics....
and the International Association for Applied Linguistics