Generative linguistics

word in the language other than the one being spoken at the time. “When we are using Chinese, we sometimes have to drop an English word into a sentence because we don 't know the Chinese word yet.” -American missionary in Taiwan The linguistics features of code-switching are: (1) Phonology. Words undergo changes when code-switching. Sometimes the stress of a word affects the changes as well. (Gibbons, 1987, P. 44-56) (2) Syntax. The English words people code-switch is usually one…

assessments, ELL students find themselves with a heavier burden than their English speaking peers. A challenge for linguistic learners is the complex linguistic structure often found on state tests as mentioned by Abedi and Levine (2013). Another concern for ELL students is the structure of the test itself. The CCSS math section is highly weighted down with English skills. The linguistic learner must understand the academic content and explain, compare, and communicate their answers in English…

acquaintances or strangers, than women were. Where I had only heard women swear when I could tell they were very close to the other person they were having a conversation with” (Charny). In other words, women are more likely to keep more taboo linguistic patterns to themselves, and less in public environments. Because of this, they can be seen as the lesser in the…

The lack of rules would contribute to disorder in the world, especially pertaining to one of the most important methods in which we communicate to one another: language in its diverse forms. In “What is a Language?” the authors Neil Smith and Deidre Wilson and establish their perspective of language being governed by rule-systems. With the density of the subject, languages have three research approaches: how it is used as a form of communication, by social groups, and the ways in which language…

The linguistic theories of key first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition theorists, researchers, and practitioners such as Chomsky, Krashen, Asher, Cummins, Chamot, and O’Malley will be discussed in this essay for the purpose of providing a base of understanding in which an educator can appropriately and adequately apply these theories and facilitate learning for English Language Learning learners in K-12 classrooms. Linguistic Theories & Theorists Several L1 and L2 linguistic…

Skill acquisition theory focuses on how people learn a skill and the advancement of that skill. (DeKeyser, 2007) .According to Lightbown and Spada (2013), second language acquisition is seen as a build up of knowledge that eventually becomes automatised. In addition, McLaughlin (1990) views language acquisition as a type of motor skill and that language acquisition is related to learning a skill like driving a car or riding a bike. Skill acquisition theory claims that we all acquire skills in…

unconsciously. This is particularly noticeable from a linguistic point…

When I was sixteen, my English teacher wrote this comment on the bottom of my Macbeth essay: Have you thought about majoring in English? She didn’t know that I spent all my free time reading and rereading my favorite books, or that I was working every night on a new chapter of my novel. In school, I struggled to get through the reading material and I wasn’t the most reliable class participant—often shy and unwilling. I wasn’t the best English student in the class, or even particularly good at…

35 Foreign Language for Cadets One growing aspect at most major colleges in the United States is the requirement to learn a foreign language. The service academies are no different in this aspect and require all cadets to take at least one year (two semesters) of a foreign language. What makes them different is the selection process for your language. D-Lab During basic training, cadets will take a test to identify their ability for foreign languages. Cadets will be presented with a fictitious…

During the time that I was observing in the second grade classroom, I was able to observe a few methods the teacher was using during the writing period. Writing periods are usually teacher directed and include prompts or copying words in cursive. The only time that writing is student directed is when they free write (during any free time) or when they are working in groups. Throughout the school day, the teacher set aside 50 minutes of writing for the students. The writing period was used for…