Language Concepts & Acquisition (Module 1) Flashcards
Phonology
The sound system
Morphology
The structure of words
Syntax
Phrase and sentence structure. (The way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, or sentences)
Semantics
Word/Sentence meaning
Pragmatics
Studies how context influences/effects the interpretation of speech. The same sentence can be used to do different things in different situations.
“Gee it’s hot in there” can be used to state a fact or to get someone to open a window.
True or False: Young children learn second languages quickly and easily
False
True or False: Although students sound fluent, they usually acquire social English more quickly than academic language
True
What influences a student in learning a new language?
Culture and social differences influence ways in which students learn a second language
Should parents of ELLs only speak English at home?
No - it’s best for them to speak the L1 at home as L1 transfer to the L2. Parents need to provide a strong model of correct language
True or False: Beginners must begin producing (speaking & writing) English right away
False.
Some students experience a silent period in which they are learning the language but not ready to produce it
True or False: The strongest predictor of success in a second language is socioeconomic status
False.
The strongest predictor is a strong foundation in the L! and quality teaching of the L2
Can the natural process of language acquisition can be accelerated?
Language acquisition takes time and exposure to a variety of contexts. Formal teaching does not speed up the natural process
True or False: Since L1 interferes with L2, students shouldn’t speak L1 in school or at home
False.
Errors that reflect the structure of L1 are a part of the process and will usually disappear over time
Should a student acquire English before engaging in content area learning? (i.e. learning the English language before being taught a science topic in an English classroom)
No - this leads ELLs to fall behind their English-speaking peers
Cognate
Having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word or root
EX: gratitude in English and gratitud in Spanish
Discourse
A continuous stretch of speech in a written text, going beyond a sentence to express thought.
EX: Cultural rules for conversation such as taking turns to talk or opening with “how are you?”
Graphophonics
One of three cueing systems to help build meaning. It is build as the brain gathers enough info to build context in text
Language Registers
There are 5 language styles. The appropriate language register depends on the audience (who), the topic (what), the purpose (why), and the location (where)
Static Register
RARElY or NEVER changes. It’s “frozen” in time and content.
EX: Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord’s Prayer, laws, etc.
Formal Register
Used in formal settings and is one-way in nature. Usually impersonal and formal.
EX: speeches, sermons, announcements, etc.
Consultative Register
A standard form of communications. Users engage in mutually accepted structure. It’s professional discourse.
EX: when two strangers meet, communications between superior & subordinate, doctor & patient, lawyer & client, teacher & student, etc.
Casual Register
Informal language used by peers and friends. Slang, vulgarities, and colloquialisms are normal. “Group” language. One must remember to engage in this register.
EX: buddies, teammates, chats & emails, blogs, letters to friends
Intimate Register
This communication is private. Reserved for close family or intimate people
EX: husband & wife, siblings, parents & children
Lexical Ambiguity
Two or more possible meanings for a single word.
EX:
Pen (cage or writing utensil), fall (season or tumble down)
Context is highly relevant to deciphering lexical ambiguity
Lexicon
A language’s vocabulary
Phoneme
Smallest unit of speech distinguishing one word from another. Distinct units of sound
Phonics
Method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters. The system of relationships between letters and sounds in a language
EX: “B” makes the /b/ sound, “TION” makes the /shun/ sound
Phonological Awareness
Foundation for learning to read - in which one is able to identify & manipulate parts of words, syllables, onsets, and rimes
Transformational Grammar
Children learn the superficial grammar of a particular language because all intangible languages are founded on a deep structure of grammatical rules that are universal and that correspond to an innate capacity of the human brain
Do students learning a second language go through some of the same stages as children learning their native language?
Yes. Including over-generalizing
Cognitive Approach
Emphasizes spoken conversation, immersion, and other techniques to simulate the environment in which most people acquire their native language as children
List the 4 different types of phonics
- Analytic
- Embedded
- Synthetic
Synthetic Phonics
Begins by teaching students how to decode words step-by-step. The best type of instruction
Analytic Phonics
Begins with a whole word and analyzes it. Blending words is not taught
Embedded Phonics
Taught in context of reading stories or when problems arise. Some vowel sounds are often left untaught
Basic part of any word
Root
You can add a ____ at the beginning of a word or a ____ at the end of a word to change it’s meaning.
Prefix,
Suffix
Free Morphemes Vs. Bound Morphemes
Free: base words or compound words
EX: Like, differ, truth, lighthouse (compound)
Bound: Affixes (such as prefixes and suffixes) and roots
EX: anti-, re-, -ed, -ing, port, script
True or False: Adding a morpheme to a word changes the meaning
True.
EX: play play + s play + er + s re + play + ed
True or False: A Morpheme can only be one syllable.
False.
Both are morphemes: Pig, elephant.
It may be a whole word or a part of word
Syntax combine ______ into morphemes, morphemes into _____, and _____ into sentences.
Syntax combine phonemes into morphemes, morphemes into words, and words into sentences.
Lexicon
Knowledge that a native speaker has about a language.
One’s mental list of the words in a language, including info about:
- meaning
- grammatical function
- pronunciation
True or False: Phonological and grammatical rules are not considered part of the lexicon
True
Semantics include: 1. 2. 3. 4.
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Homonyms
- Multiple-meaning words
Semantic Ambiguity
One or more words within a sentence can be understood as having two or more distinct A meanings.