Trading between Reflexivity and Relevance: New Challenges for Applied Linguistics

An introduction to essays & response articles in a special thematic issue of Applied Linguistics titled "Researching the Discourses of Workplace Practice" evaluates the extent of mutual relevance & enrichment between applied linguists' research & the work of health care professionals in the context of workplace-based discourse studies. Four dimensions of applied linguistics research are explored in this connection: (1) the prioritization of specificity vs generality in the relation of knowledge to practice; (2) reflection in action vs reflection on action in the interpretation of research data; (3) practical considerations in the dissemination of research findings; & (4) the examination of relations among applied linguists in the roles of outsider, insider, resource, befriender, expert consultant, evaluator, & agent of change. Given the applied linguist's need to consult practitioners regarding the sense of their discourse, it is suggested that practitioners be considered discourse experts who can reflect metalinguistically on their practices. 1 Figure, 38 References. J. Hitchcock