Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines the fields of linguistics, language studies, and, more recently, the social sciences It focuses on the use, teaching, and learning of language, and how language can be used to improve communication in professional, educational, and personal contexts. The goal of applied linguistics is to apply theoretical knowledge to solve practical language problems.
The topics for an applied linguistics thesis can be extremely varied, but most commonly investigate questions related to language learning or language use. Here are five creative topics related to applied linguistics that could be used for a thesis.
1. The use of code-switching in the classroom: This thesis could look at the way students switch between different languages in the classroom, the effects of this language switching on the learning environment, and how it can be used as an effective teaching tool.
2. The effects of language on social identity: This thesis could examine the role language plays in constructing social identities, such as those related to gender, age, race, or ethnicity.
3. Second-language acquisition in online communities: This thesis could explore how people learn second languages from online language communities, how the communities interact with each other, and what types of language-learning strategies are successful.
4. Cross-cultural communication: This thesis could investigate how individuals from different cultures interact with each other, what strategies they use to overcome language barriers, and how these strategies can be improved upon.
5. Language and emotions: This thesis could look into the role language plays in expressing and understanding emotions and how this affects relationships. It could also investigate the effects of the language spoken on the emotions experienced by those involved in the conversation.