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Article published In: Cognitive Linguistic Studies
Vol. 9:2 (2022) ► pp.185–201

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Applying cognitive linguistics to foreign language teaching and learning

Addressing current research challenges

 | Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
ORCiD logo with link | Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
ORCiD logo with link | Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Published online: 6 December 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/cogls.21010.wir
Abstract
The discipline of Applied Cognitive Linguistics is a recent, still emerging framework, which is situated at the interface of Cognitive Linguistics (CL) and Applied Linguistics research (Pütz, M., Niemeier, S., & Dirven, R. (Eds.). (2001a). Applied Cognitive Linguistics I: Theory and Language Acquisition. Berlin: de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (Eds.). (2001b). Applied Cognitive Linguistics II: Language Pedagogy. Berlin: de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). At its core, Applied CL is concerned with the use of CL models, theories, or concepts for L2 teaching and learning, where it aims to create effective teaching methods, activities, or materials. Owing to its more recent origin in the 1990s/2000s, a lively metadisciplinary discussion is still taking place within the discipline, which highlights various challenges or concerns that Applied CL research is currently facing (e.g., Achard, M., & Niemeier, S. (Eds.). (2004). Cognitive Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, and Foreign Language Teaching. Berlin: de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Pütz, M. (2010). Cognitive Linguistics and applied linguistics. In D. Geeraerts & H. Cuyckens (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics (pp. 1139–1159). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Roche, J. (2014). Language acquisition and language pedagogy. In J. Littlemore & J. R. Taylor (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Companion to Cognitive Linguistics (pp. 325–351). London: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Tyler, A., & Huang, L. (2018). Introduction. In A. Tyler, L. Huang & H. Jan (Eds.), What is Applied Cognitive Linguistics? Answers from Current SLA Research (pp. 1–33). Berlin: de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). Major concerns in this discussion are, for instance, (1) the underuse of empirical data in Applied CL research and (2) the yet limited application of CL theories to Communicative Language Teaching (as opposed to Present-Practice-Produce, in which it is typically embedded). This article outlines these two challenges to research in Applied CL and offers suggestions how to address these concerns in future investigations. By doing so, we intend to contribute to the ongoing metadisciplinary discussion about the Applied CL framework and to promote its further consolidation.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: Applied Cognitive Linguistics as recent, still emerging field
  • 2.Article outline
  • 3.Method: A metadisciplinary discussion
  • 4.Concern 1: Underuse of empirical data in Applied CL
  • 5.Concern 2: Applied CL is rarely combined with communicative language teaching
  • 6.Summary and outlook
  • Notes
  • References
References (49)
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