Dichotomy In Applied Linguistics

The topic is mainly about one of the principles of philosophy--dichotomy and wholeness--used to deal with some phenomena in applied linguistics. Dichotomy and wholeness, being universal, is used to guide the study of applied linguistics to a better and correct final goal.Based on the philosophical theory of dichotomy at home and abroad, in ancient time and at present, this paper tries to make clear the relation of dichotomy and wholeness in applied linguistics in different perspectives. Dichotomy, seeming exclusive, isolated, separate and in conflict in appearance, is in fact inclusive, combined, integrated, neutralized, in moderate way and in harmony. The study of dichotomy and wholeness is used in every field now which can be seen and proved from the works by philosophers and linguists.In philosophy, applied linguistics, translation and so on, many widely-used theories like good vs. evil, internal contradiction vs. external contradiction, internal cause vs. external cause, theory vs. practice, input vs. output, introverts vs. extroverts, tolerance of ambiguity vs. intolerance of ambiguity, source language vs. target language, foreignization vs. domestication, literal translation vs. free translation etc., are dichotomies and they co-exist in their respective field. Either aspect of a contradiction relies on the other, i.e. the existence of one aspect is the basis of the existence of the other. If one aspect of the theory disappears, so does the other at the same time.Both dichotomy and wholeness supply people with sufficient methods to deal with linguistic problems all-sidedly and effectively. This method of solving problems by applying dichotomy and wholeness is certain to help sharpen people's skills, enhance their abilities of learning the world and of avoiding making mistakes in dealing with matters and to give us guidance in the study of the applied linguistics, in translation and so on.It is concluded that the result, derived from the dialectical, qualitative and quantitative theoretical analyses in detail and in depth with the factual evidence acquired through certain statistics, questionnaires, e-mails and some experiments, does prove that it is essential for applied linguists and teaching professionals, who are the mediators, to reconcile the conflicting beliefs, to consider paradoxes in MAT, to pay close attention to the co-ordinance , coexistence, cooperation, harmony, balance of the dichotomy (two sides of one coin), which would help solve problems in language acquisition more scientifically and comprehensively, to encourage and benefit academic debates and to further study in the disciplines or sub-branches concerned, with"a hundred schools of thoughts contend; a hundred flowers blossom"to be successfully realized.