Journal of Applied Languages and Linguistics

Research Article

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Linguistics and language teaching: a case study of linguistically significant pedagogical irrelevance

Deak Kirkham

University of Leeds

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

Mailing address: C/O Univeristy of Leeds Language Centre, Parkinson Building, Leeds, LS2 9JT

Email:d.e.a.kirkham@leeds.ac.uk

Published online: 7 July 2018, pp. 5-16

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​​Citation: Kirkham, D. (2018). Linguistics and language teaching: a case study of linguistically significant pedagogical irrelevance. Journal of Applied languages and Linguistics, 2(1), pp.5-16.

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Abstract

The relevance of linguistics for language teaching has been a subject of scholarly discussion for some time. While not contesting the essential insights of this tradition of thought, this article examines the voiced/voiceless alternation in English (e.g. wife/wives or use/use as verb and noun respectively) to argue that certain structures while linguistically significant, may be pedagogically irrelevant.

© Applied Language Studies House Publications 2018. All rights reserved.

Keywords:

linguistics and language teaching; voiced~voiceless alternation; linguistic significance; pedagogical irrelevance

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