Applied Linguistics is concerned with practical issues involving language in the life of the community. The most important of these is the learning of second or foreign languages. Others include language policy, multilingualism, language education, the preservation and revival of endangered languages, and the assessment and treatment of language difficulties. Applied Linguistics is concerned with the systematic study of language structure, the acquisition of first and subsequent languages, the role of language in communication, and the status of language as the product of particular cultures and other social groups. A background in linguistics is essential for language teachers, translators, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and many other language professionals. Applied Linguistics, generally examines the structure of language and its role in communication, explores how children acquire language, studies how the skills of second-language speakers develop, and investigates how the social or cultural environment interacts with language. Linguistics and Applied Linguistics is a challenging and stimulating discipline, offering many opportunities for original work.