象征能力与外语教学及应用语言学学科定位——Claire Kramsch教授访谈

Symbolic Competence and the Discipline Orientation of Foreign Language Education/Applied Linguistics: An Interview with Professor Claire Kramsch

本文是对Claire Kramsch教授的访谈录,涉及她近20年来的主要学术思想,包括她对外语教学、教师责任、象征能力、第三空间理论、应用语言学作为独立学科等方面的看法。她指出在当前多语、多元文化的全球化时代,外语教学的目标应从表层的交际能力提高转为对多维度象征能力的培养;外语教师应通过实际交际的例子,为学生阐释在语言学习过程中结合多语使用的途径和方法,给他们创造和提供足够的空间去做选择,提高他们的主观能动性,使其能够在语言规范使用和语言创新度之间把握平衡。此外,应用语言学拥有其独特的象征价值,语言教师的社会地位应得到提高。

This is an interview with Professor Claire Kramsch, with a focus on her major thoughts in the past twenty years. These include her views on foreign language teaching, teacher responsibility, symbolic competence, third place theory as well as applied linguistics as an independent discipline. She argues that in the present multilingual and multicultural global era, the goal of foreign language teaching should switch from the teaching of communicative competence to that of the multidimensional symbolic competence; foreign language teachers should demonstrate and exemplify the ways multiple languages can possibly be employed during students＇ learning process, create opportunities and provide space for them to make language choices, enact learner agency and help them to keep a fine balance between the standard language use and language creativity. In addition, she calls for a heightened awareness of language teachers＇ social status and the symbolic value that the field of applied linguistics potentially holds.