LECTURE 1 P2 EDEE100

Topic Overview

• Title: A Social and Functional View of Language and Language Development

• Course: EDEE100 English Language in Use

Language Learning Steps

• Importance of Early Language Learning: Foundation for future achievement at school

• Three Key Steps in Language Learning:

  • Step 1: From home to school - Generalising

  • Step 2: From home to school - Making abstract meanings

  • Step 3: From everyday meanings to specialised meanings (educational knowledge)

Step 1: Generalising from Home to School

• Generalising from Experience:

  • Use of generic names and timeless present tense verbs

  • Connection of ideas through cause or condition

  • Example Queries:

    • "Do cars go faster than horses?"

    • "Do aeroplanes have wheels?"

Step 2: Making Abstract Meanings

• Orienting to Written Symbols:

  • Understanding written language as a step towards literacy

  • Examples of recognition:

    • "That says Peter Rabbit" (2.5 years)

    • "I know how to do a /I/" (4 years)

• Classifying and Defining Ideas:

  • Classifying concrete ideas:

    • Example: "A bus isn’t a truck, is it?"

  • Classifying abstract concepts:

    • Example: "Is fifty a number?"

• Developing Abstract Reasoning:

  • Reasoning without concrete evidence

  • Logical consequences examples:

    • "If all the tyres be flat, the car will walk!"

Step 3: Everyday to Specialised Meanings

• Language Variations:

  • Everyday language vs. literary and technical language

  • Example of literary language:

    • Excerpt from Moby-Dick

  • Example of technical language:

    • Description of a barometer's function

Understanding Language

• Social and Functional View: Language is a resource for achieving social purposes.

• Types of Texts: Different texts achieve different purposes based on context.

• Factors Influencing Language Use:

  • Ideas being expressed

  • Logic to connect ideas

  • Interaction dynamics (who is involved)

  • Organization of texts (how communication occurs)

Structure of Language

• Definition of a Text: A unit of language used to achieve a social purpose, consisting of different layers:

  • Whole text level

  • Paragraph level

  • Sentence level

  • Word level

• Details on Word Level:

  • Words composed of morphemes

  • Spoken and heard using sounds and syllables

  • Written down using alphabetical letters