The British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) is a learned society, based in the UK, which provides a forum for people interested in language and applied linguistics.
BAAL organises regular meetings of its members at various venues in the UK,British Association for Applied Linguistics: ''. 11 June 2007. publishes conference proceedings, issues a regular newsletter and awards student scholarships.British h. for Applied Linguistics: 'Funding Opportunities '. 29 April 2007. There is an elected Executive Committee (EC) that represents the interests of members. The current chair is Professor Zhu Hua of UCL Institute of Education.
BAAL has an international membership of over 1200 members and is a registered charity in the UK (Charity number 246800).British Association for Applied Linguistics: 'About BAAL '. 4 December 2006.
Activities BAAL organises scientific meetings. It supports applied linguistics activity. It brings together the applied linguistics community viaBAALmail, its dedicated webmail list, through which members share and discuss applied linguistics-related news, achievements and opportunities.
BAAL is also officially represented on the advisory board of the journal Applied Linguistics (Oxford University Press).
Annual Conference Since 1967 BAAL has held an annual conference. At the conference three prizes are awarded: the annual Book Prize, the Richard Pemberton prize for the best postgraduate student paper and a prize for the best poster presentation.
Recent conferences and conference themes 52nd – 29–31 August 2019, Manchester Metropolitan University: 'Broadening the Horizons of Applied Linguistics'. 51st – 6–8 September 2018, York St John University: 'Taking risks in applied linguistics'. 50th – 31 August-2 September 2017, University of Leeds: 'Diversity in Applied Linguistics: Opportunities, challenges, questions'. 49th – 1–3 September 2016, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge: 'Taking stock of Applied Linguistics: Where are we now?' 48th – 3–5 September 2015, Aston University, Birmingham: 'Breaking Theory: New Directions'.
BAAL Book Prize winners, runners-up, and shortlists +YearTitleAuthorPublisherResult2025Migration, Adult Language Learning and MultilingualismAnna-Elisabeth HolmRoutledge/Taylor & FrancisWon Listening Without Borders: Creating Spaces for Encountering DifferenceMagdalena Kubanyiova and Parinita ShettyMultilingual Mattersrowspan="2" The Bloomsbury Handbook of Linguistic LandscapesRobert Blackwood, Stefania Tufi and Will AmosBloomsbury PublishingMonolingual Policies in Multilingual SchoolsJürgen JaspersOxford University PressShortlisted 2024Engaging Children in Applied Linguistics ResearchAnnamaria PinterCambridge University PressWon Multilingual Families in a Digital Age: Mediational Repertoires and Transnational PracticesKristin Vold Lexander and Jannis AndroutsopoulosRoutledgeRunner-up Language, Discourse and Anxiety Luke Collins and Paul BakerCambridge University Press rowspan="4" Political Activism in the Linguistic Landscape: Or, how to use Public Space as a Medium for ProtestPhilip Seargeant, Korina Giaxoglou and Frank MonaghanMultilingual MattersSocial Justice and the Language Classroom: Reflection, Action, and Transformation Deniz Ortaçtepe HartEdinburgh University PressThe Handbook of Linguistic Human Rights Tove Skutnabb-Kangas and Robert PhillipsonWiley2023Standards, Stigma, Surveillance: Raciolinguistic Ideologies and England's Schools.Ian CushingPalgrave Mobile-Assisted Language Learning: Concepts, Contexts and ChallengesGlenn StockwellCambridge University Press rowspan="2" Gender Diversity and Sexuality in English Language Education: New Transnational VoicesDarío Luis Banegas and Navan GovenderBloomsburyAntisocial Language Teaching: English and the Pervasive Pathology of WhitenessJPB GeraldMultilingual Matters rowspan="3" The Inner World of Gatekeeping in Scholarly PublicationPejman Habibie and Anna Kristina HultgrenPalgrave MacmillanImplicit and Explicit Language Attitudes Robert M. McKenzie, Andrew McNeillRoutledge2022Language as Symbolic PowerClaire KramschCambridge University Press Community, Solidarity and Multilingualism in a Transnational Social Movement Maria Rosa Garrido SardàRoutledge rowspan="2" Language in a Globalised World: Social Justice Perspectives on Mobility and ContactKhawla BadwanPalgrave MacmillanLinguistic Penalties and the Job Interview Celia RobertsEquinox rowspan="3" The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and SexualityJo Angouri and Judith BaxterRoutledgeTranscultural Voices: Narrating Hip Hop Culture in Complex Delhi Jaspal Naveel SinghMultilingual Matters2021The Dynamics of Dementia CommunicationAlison WrayOxford University Press Academic Irregularities: Language and Neoliberalism in Higher Education Liz Morrish & Helen SauntsonRoutledgeCorpus, Discourse and Mental HealthDaniel Hunt and Gavin BrookesBloomsbury rowspan="3" Innovations and Challenges in Applied Linguistics from the Global SouthAlastair Pennycook and Sinfree MakoniRoutledgeOntologies of English: Conceptualising the Language for Learning, Teaching, and AssessmentChristopher J. Hall & Rachel WicaksonoCambridge University Press2020Palgrave Handbook of Minority Languages and CommunitiesGabrielle Hogan-Brun & Bernadette O'Rourke (eds.)Palgrave Macmillanrowspan="7" 2019Oxford Handbook of Language Policy and PlanningJames W. Tollefson & Miguel Pérez-Milans (Eds.)Oxford University Press2018Posthumanist Applied LinguisticsAlastair Pennycook Routledge2017Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice: An Introduction to Applied Sociolinguistics.Ingrid PillerOxford University Press2016World Englishes: A Critical Analysis.Mario SaraceniBloomsbury Academic2015Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. O. Garcia & Li Wei Palgrave Macmillan2014Translingual practice: Global Englishes and Cosmopolitan RelationsSuresh CanagarajahRoutledge
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) BAAL has a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), which meet regularly and provide opportunities for researchers to share, promote and develop work within specific areas of applied linguistics.
The current SIGs are: Corpus Linguistics English as an Additional Language [EAL] Health and Science Communication Intercultural Communication Language, Gender and Sexuality Language and New Media Language in Africa Language Learning and Teaching Language Policy Linguistic Ethnography Forum Linguistics and Knowledge about Language in Education (LKALE) Multilingualism Professional, Academic and Work-based Literacies (PAWBL) Testing, Evaluation and Assessment Vocabulary Studies
History
BAAL was founded in the 1960s, as interest increased in the science of linguistics and its practical applications - for example, in language teaching and learning.
BAAL's creation was the result of a proposal by Peter Strevens, recently appointed to a new chair in Applied Linguistics at the University of Essex. At a preliminary meeting of interested parties at Birkbeck College in July 1965, a narrower remit was discussed than the wider set of issues that the Association would ultimately concern itself with. Initially, it was suggested that it might focus on language teaching and machine translation, but the first full meeting in 1967 at the University of Reading agreed to broaden the scope. BAAL emerged as the UK affiliate of AILA, with Pit Corder its first chair.
Membership was narrowly defined in the early years, but a feeling that the Association could afford to widen recruitment was apparent by the early 1970s. In 1985, a requirement for formal qualifications, already flexible, was dropped; and today anyone can join.
The BAAL Archive is housed in the Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.
See also Language acquisition
References
British Association for Applied Linguistics (1997) Notes on the History of the British Association for Applied Linguistics 1967-1997. Trim J (1988) Applied Linguistics in Society. In Grunwell P (ed.) Applied Linguistics in Society: British Studies in Applied Linguistics 3. London: Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research. .
External links British Association for Applied Linguistics - official site