Lesson 1: An Overview Of Language: Prepared By Kinsley Ng Sen Fa, Segi College Penang, Program Dece

Lesson 1: An overview of language

prepared by Kinsley Ng Sen Fa, Segi College Penang, Program DECE

LANGUAGE The systematic, conventional use of sounds and signs, or written symbols in a human society for

communication and self-expression. It conveys meaning that is mutually understood COMMUNICATION The giving (sending) and receiving of information, signals or messages EARLY LITERACY

Speaking, listening, print awareness, writing behaviors, reading of alphabet and words, and other skills that evolve and change over time, culminating in conventional literacy

Language is a communication tool Language is symbolic Language is the means to maintain interpersonal relationship

Language is arbitrary construction that people agree

Language is a system of structurally related elements for the transmission of meaning

The nature of language

Components of language Phonology The sound system of a language and how it is represented with an alphabetic code

Syntax The arrangement of words as elements in a sentence to show their relationship

SEMANTIC The study of meanings associated with words and the acquisition of vocabulary

PRAGMATICS The study of how language is used effectively in a social context; varying speech patterns depending on social circumstances and the context of situation

PHONEME The smallest units of speech that distinguished one utterance from another

MORPHEME The smallest units of language standing by itself with recognized meaning.

GRAMMAR The way sounds are organized to communicate meaning.

OVERREGULARIZATION The tendency on the part of children to make the language regular, such as using past tenses like –ed on verb endings

Pragmatic skills

Learning that in certain situations, talking is inappropriate Using different communicative styles to suit different communicative partners

Turns-taking in conversation

Answer when being asked

Maintaining the right amount of eye contact

To stay on the subject of a conversation

Body-language (signs and gestures)

expressive language Or (productive language)

Receptive Or language (comprehension language)

The child speaks the word at an appropriate time and place

The child hear a word and anticipate or react appropriately

•Productive language lags behind receptive language •Filled with pauses and repetition initially

Vocalization play gives way to enjoyment of rhyming and nonsense language play

Label objects in book

Listen to stories Seems to distinguish between drawing and writing

Understand that books are handled in particular ways

Children’s pretending to read

Request adults to read / write

Strategies young children use in their attempts to comprehend / produce oral / written language

Early literacy

Increasing purposive scribble Happens best in an atmosphere of social collaboration with peers and others who are more literate