GP Language and communication - Week 3_4

• Mens & Maatschappij
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Language and communication

2. Learning a language

This week ..

.. you will learn about the number of languages that exist

.. we will discuss how learning a language works

.. we will discuss the importance of languages

Why do we use language?

1. The importance of language

Communicate ideas

Think

Express who we are

Do you know other types of language than out spoken languages? 

Are these "languages"?

Computer programming?

Fantasy languages (Elvish in the Lord of the Rings for example)

Why not?

A language has native speakers

In a language, you can speak about everything

A language is used/recognized by a group

Small research ..

Is sign language a "real" language?

Explain (next slide) with the 3 characteristics of languages!

Is sign language a real language?

A language has native speakers

In a language, you can speak about everything

A language is used/recognized by a group

YES, sign language is a language!

Are there people without a language?

Google "feral children". What do you find?

Is sign language a "real" language?

Explain (next slide) with the 3 characteristics of languages!

Is sign language a "real" language?

Explain (next slide) with the 3 characteristics of languages!

Answer:

Critical period

YES, there are people without a language

Can people lose their language?

Google it!

(If it's too hard, google "Aphasia")

Critical period

1. What was the initial hypothesis of the researchers about the critical age for learning a language?

2. What did researchers find out?

3. How did they find this?

2. Learning a language

In groups, discuss the different questions

- Skinner (psychologist) Imitation (parents, brothers/sisters), behaviorism

- But: children also produce forms like Ik eette. This form can't be imitated, right?

2. Learning a language

Different theories:

1.  Skinner (psychologist) Imitation (parents, brothers/sisters), behaviorism

- But: children also produce forms like Ik eette. This form can't be imitated, right?

2. Learning a language

How do you think a child learns his/her first language?

2. Learning a language

2. The theory of Universal Grammar: 

Children can recognize linguistic patterns because they are born with grammatical categories (verbs etc.)

Chomsky:

Watch the video in the next slide.

How to learn a new language?

Write down the strategies named in the video.

What is the thing that all polyglots have in common?

Which language is according to you, the most important language in the world? Give 2 arguments.

Duolingo : the learning experiment

Experiment

Install the app “Duolingo” and pick a language you would love to learn. From this day on, you will start the 4 weeks “language learning” challenge! You can choose between “casual” (5 min. a day), “regular” (10 min. a day), “serious” (15 min. a day) or “insane” (20 min. a day); every single one is okay, as long as you keep on repeating it every day. (Repetition is the most important for our experiment)

How many languages are there in the world?

Being bilingual

Code switching

Do you like learning new languages? Why/why not?

Which are the most important languages in the world based on 1) number of speakers 

2) geographic regions 

3) usability/versatility? 

You can google but you can also use the info on the stencils

Discuss and write down ..