Of course, several commentators have offered definitions of applied linguistics in recent decades, including Crystal (1980: 20), Richards et al, (1985: 29), Brumfit (1995: 27) and Rampton (1997: 11). For me, applied linguistics means taking language and language theories as the basis from which to elucidate how communication is actually carried out in real life, to identify problematic or challenging issues involving language in many different contexts, and to analyse them in order to draw out practical insights and implications that are useful for the people in those contexts. As an applied linguist, I’m primarily interested in offering people practical and illuminating insights into how language and communication contribute fundamentally to interaction between people.