ntroduction:
An important part of
successful language
teaching is understanding
the principles of
linguistics and how they
relate to the production and
comprehension of
language.
This course introduces
important concepts in
linguistics, particularly as
they relate
to English, while examining
how to use these concepts
and specific techniques for
developing oral and written
skills.
INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
MODULE 1
Introduction:
An important part of successful language teaching is understanding the principles of
linguistics and how they relate to the production and comprehension of language.
This course introduces important concepts in linguistics, particularly as they relate
to English, while examining how to use these concepts and specific techniques for
developing oral and written skills.
LESSON 1 Understanding the Basic Concepts in Linguistics
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson the student is expected to:
1. Identify the basic concepts in Linguistics
2. Use the concepts and terms in communication with peers for
further understanding.
EXCITE:
Can you tell what is happening in the joke?
Pat: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Chris: I give up.
Pat: To get to the other side.
Most of us heard this joke when we were small children and find
nothing remarkable in the ability to engage in such exchanges. But a bit of
reflection reveals that even such a mundane use of language involves an
amazing combination of abilities.
Think about it: Pat makes some vocal noises, with the effect that Chris
entertains thoughts of a scenario involving a fowl and a thoroughfare. This
leads to an exchange of utterances, possibly laughter, and the conviction by
both parties that Pat has 'told a joke'. This is one of the many ways we use
language.
EXPLORE:
Every human knows at least one language, spoken or signed.
Linguistics is the science of language, including the sounds, words, and
grammar rules. Words in languages are finite, but sentences are not. It is
this creative aspect of human language that sets it apart from animal
languages, which are essentially responses to stimuli.
The rules of a language, also called grammar, are learned as one
acquires a language. These rules include phonology, the sound system,
morphology, the structure of words, syntax, the combination of words into
sentences, semantics, the ways in which sounds and meanings are related,
and the lexicon, or mental dictionary of words. When you know a language,
you know words in that language, i.e. sound units that are related to specific
meanings.
However, the sounds and meanings of words are arbitrary. For the most part,
there is no relationship between the way a word is pronounced and its
meaning. Knowing a language encompasses this entire system, but this
knowledge (called competence) is different from behavior (called
performance.) You may know a language, but you may also choose to not
speak it. Although you are not speaking the language, you still have the
knowledge of it. However, if you don't know a language, you cannot speak it
at all. There are two types of grammars: descriptive and prescriptive.
Descriptive grammars represent the unconscious knowledge of a language.
English speakers, for example, know that "me likes apples" is incorrect and "I
like apples" is correct, although the speaker may not be able to explain why.
Descriptive grammars do not teach the rules of a language, but rather
describe rules that are already known. In contrast, prescriptive grammars
dictate what a speaker's grammar should be and they include teaching
grammars, which are written to help teach a foreign language. There are
about 7,000 languages in the world right now (a rough estimate), and
linguists have discovered that these languages are more alike than different
from each other. There are universal concepts and properties that
are shared by all languages, and these principles are contained in the
Universal Grammar, which forms the basis of all possible human languages.
LANGUAGE PRINCIPLES
All languages of the world share the same features (see figure 1.1).
Languages
share some general organizational mechanism that distinguish them from
other forms of communication, such as systems of communication developed
by animals and insects. While many animal communication systems may
share some of these systems, none has them all.
FIGURE 1.1 Eight Design Features of Language
Double articulation Languages use small number
Double articulation of sounds that are combined to produce a large,
but finite number of words which can be
combined in an infinite number of sentences.
Productivity Language can produce novel sentences that
have never been uttered before
Arbitrariness There is no necessary connection
between sounds and meaning
Interchangeability An individual can both be a speaker and a
hearer.
Displacement Language can be used to talk about
that are present or does not exist.
Language can also be used to lie.
Discreteness The difference between language units are of
all-or-nothing kind: a sound cannot be heard
as something in between a b or a p sound.
Specialization Speaking requires only a limited part of the
speaker’s behavior/attention and is
independent in context
Cultural transmission Not all aspect of language is innate;
some are taught after birth and differ
according to the culture the child is reared
in.
EXCHANGE
With friend who is also a college student, choose at least three (3)
important feature of Language that you can discuss with him/her.
Record your thoughts in the discussion and also your friend’s thoughts.
Are they similar or different? If they differ, why?
CONCEPTS IDENTIFIED My thoughts about the My Friend’s thoughts
Concept about the Concept (Ask
your friend to get an
answer)
Concept A
Concept B
Concept C
EXAMINE
Answer the following.
1. Explain: All languages in the world are based on similar principles.
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Prepared by:
CHERYLL L. MAROLLANO
Instructor
Recommending approval:
MELVIN M. GOYENA, EdD
College Dean
