(6) International Network for Educational Linguistics as a Discipline (INFELAD)

Tue Sep 17 12:07:15 UTC 2002

I, too, like the 'transdisciplinary' idea. Normal Fairclough has some quite
interesting thoughts on it, in a recent discussion in the Journal of
Sociolinguistics ('Discourse, social theory, and social research:  The
discourse of welfare reform', JoS 4/2: 13-195).  I think it's thes kind of
discussion we might undertake here, however, that makes holes in the high
thick walls - based in the real issues that have moved you to propose this
new list and (potentially) new discipline.  I'd like to hear more about what
those issues were, as I sense that things may feel different on this side of
the pond.

Jane Freeland
3, Greville Road
Shirley
Southampton SO15 5AW
Tel: +44 (0)23 80496211

----- Original Message -----
From: "Educational Linguistics" <educational_linguistics at hotmail.com>
To: <lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 10:20 AM
Subject: (6) International Network for Educational Linguistics as a
Discipline (INFELAD)

Very glad that some of you have eventually started to discuss educational
linguistics as a discipline. It seems quite helpful to hear Francis's ideas
borrowed from Halliday's.

However, at a time when multi- and inter-disciplinary studies have not yet
been very successfully developed, "trans-disciplinary" studies would
probably meet even more obstacles, I guess. Are scholars currently in
different disciplines prepared for this trans-disciplinary collaboration in
different "themes" or "areas"? Disciplinary walls are still high and thick,
I would say.

I personally find the following link very relevant to this discussion. See
whether any of you could get some "trans-disciplinary" or "non-disciplinary"
inspiration from this:

http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/raphael/raf_ath4.html

I think it is more important for us to concentrate on academic and
professional discussions and exploration rather than to find out whether a
message is written by a school pupil or a university chair if we are going
to value ideas per se rather than somebody's ideas.

INFELAD

*Please note that this is purely for academic/professional purposes.*

>From: "Bernard Spolsky" <spolsb at mail.biu.ac.il>
>Reply-To: lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu
>To: <lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu>
>Subject: RE: (5) International Network for Educational Linguistics as a
>Discipline (INFELAD)
>Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 21:52:35 +0200
>
>Francis
>Building a new discipline is a great idea.  But it will probably run into
>serious institutional problems.  That's why I always took the easy way .
>But
>good luck!
>Bernard Spolsky spolsb at mail.biu.ac.il
>PS I too would appreciate it if our interrogator non-chair identified
>him/herself.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu
>[mailto:owner-lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu]On Behalf Of Francis M Hult
>Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 8:09 PM
>To: lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu
>Subject: Re: (5) International Network for Educational Linguistics as a
>Discipline (INFELAD)
>
>
>I think we do ourselves a disservice by thinking in terms of an
>'either-or' distinction.  We should take our cue from Halliday, who has
>stated of applied linguistics that it should be considered
>'transdisciplinary' rather than 'inter- or multidisciplinary'
>"...because the latter terms seem to me to imply that one still retains
>the disciplines as the locus of intellectual activity, while building
>bridges between them, or assembling them into a collection; whereas the
>real alternative is to supercede them, creating new forms of activity
>which are thematic rather than disciplinary in their orientation."  The
>same holds true if we are to find educational linguistic inquiry to be of
>serious value.  To place it within borders will only stifle what we can
>do with it.  While the themes we address are linguistic and educational,
>we should by no means consider ourselves limited by either of these
>domains as disciplines.
>
>By the way, I am sorry if I missed the first exchanges of this debate
>but I am curious, 'educational linguistics,' what your area/context is
>(who are you, where are you working, what is your background, etc.).
>
>Best,
>Francis M. Hult
>Educational Linguistics Doctoral Program
>University of Pennsylvania
>Graduate School of Education
>
>P.S. The above citation is from Halliday, M.A.K. (2001).  New ways of
>meaning: The challenges to applied linguistics.  In A. Fill and P.
>Muhlhausler (eds) The Ecolinguistics Reader: Language Ecology and
>Environment(pp. 175-202).  New York: Continuum.
> > Thank you for more contribution to the discipline *and* to the (virtual)
> > network. However, it would be more helpful if people could really begin
>some
> > meaningful and relevant discussions, for example, about the relationship
> > between applied and educational linguistics. All are welcome to
>contribute
> > *your* view (which doesn't have to be based on published or
>authoritative
> > sources).
> >
> > Should educational linguistics belong to LINGUISTICS (like
> > psycho-linguistics, socio-linguistics, etc) *or* EDUCATION (like
>educational
> > psychology, educational philosophy, etc)? What do *you* think?
> >
> > As I said, no one should "chair" anything here so it's up to you to
> > contribute and discuss something related to educational linguistics if
>you
> > do care about furthering language and education studies.
> >
> > INFELAD
> >
> > *Please note that this is purely for academic/professional purposes.*
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Nariyo Kono" <nariyo at mindspring.com>
> > >Reply-To: lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu
> > >To: <lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu>
> > >Subject: Re: (3) International Network for Educational Linguistics as a
> > >Discipline
> > >Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 23:09:13 -0700
> > >
> > >Yes, I would support the field.
> > >My educational background/practices have been useful:
> > >
> > >1. when I research within communities; 2. when I challenge traditional
> > >research paradigms/perspectives.
> > >
> > >I think that developing a network like this will be helpful as well.
>It
> > >might help us develop effective language policies and planning.  I
>would
> > >support the discipline AND the network.
> > >
> > >Nariyo Kono, Ph.D.
> > >Department of Culture and Heritage
> > >The Confederated Tribes of the
> > >Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
> > >P.O. Box 775 Warm Springs, Oregon 97761
> > >Phone: (541) 553-2200; Fax: (541) 553-1899
> > >Department of Applied Linguistics
> > >Portland State University
> > >P.O. Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207-0751
> > >Email: nariyo at mindspring.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
> >

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