A tribute to M.A.K. Halliday

Abstract

The tribute below commemorates the life and work of Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday by offering a brief biographical sketch, by reviewing his work in terms of key concepts and methodological development, and by highlighting his perspective on the dialectical relationship between theory and application, so fundamental for his approach to linguistics. An attempt will finally be made to assess his contributions to linguistics and to bring out his general underlying socio-cultural commitment visible in his advocacy of an “appliable linguistics”.