Do you read internet fora (or: forums, according to the www.oxforddictionaries.com)?  While researching for the first post, I found quite an entartaining teenage forum, where the question "What is applied linguistics?" appeared. Well, I was really impressed with the number of explanations:
1)  science about how language functiones
2)  science about how language originated
3)  science about practical manners of language
4)  studies (specialization)

In fact, all of these answers were correct. According to the Britannica, AL is "the scientific study of language" (for further information: HERE), but does it differ much from philology?
Let's compare these two:

                                                             Applied Linguistics:                    Philology:
 deals with language                                     yes                                       yes
 coveres practical manners of language         yes                                       yes
 includes many disciplines                             yes                                       yes

So where exactly is the difference?
Firstly, AL deals with real-life problems in using language, such as biligualism or multilingualism, second language acquisition, translation or even computer-mediated communication, whereas philology focuses on the study of texts (more: HERE).
Secondly, while AL includes subdisciplines like semantics, syntax or pragmatics, philology coveres literature, art, music, culture and so on.
Than, philology is about studying texts and treating them as a whole, whereas AL search for means, contexts of language  that has been used.
Here you can find brilliant paragraph about differences between a philologist and a linguist.

What does it all mean in practice?
Well, I can tell you from my own experience, that studying applied linguistics means concerning and focusing on practice - grammar, speaking, writing, translating. It requires staying open to both cultural and grammatical aspects of communication, treating language as a concept, not only as a way to communicate. Much more fun, huh?


Mouse