THE ROLE OF LINGUISTICS IN TEFL METHODOLOGY1

This paper begins with a consideration of the language learn-ing process from a transformational point of view. It is sug-gested that acquiring a language can be thought of as internalizing a set of rules of the language. Next, three possible roles for lin-guistic theory in TEFL methodology are discussed: (1) TEFL is completely dependent upon linguistics; (2) linguistic theory can be used to justify TEFL classroom activities; and (3) linguistics pro-vides insights into, but does not determine, teaching methods. It is argued that the latter position is the most reasonable role for linguistics vis-2-vis foreign language pedagogy. During their long association with the field of English as a foreign language, linguists have made important contributions to the oral methods of language teaching. As they helped to define this method and write new materials, they used linguistic theory as a source of ideas and as a means of justifying the classroo