Important Acronyms TESOL=Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages ESOL=English for Speakers of Other Languages TEFL=Teaching English as a Foreign Language EFL=English as a Foreign Language ESL=English as a Second Language LEP=Limited English Proficiency ELL=English Language Learner SLA=Second Language Acquisition L1/L2=First Language/Second Language

The study of linguistics is comprised of the following 5 sub-areas: PHONETICS the sounds of language how and where sounds are produced PHONOLOGY the organization of sounds MORPHOLOGY sounds put together to convey meaning morpheme: the smallest unit with meaning SYNTAX sentence formation and rules grammar SEMANTICS meanings of words, phrases, and sentences

What is language?

Implicit (one’s L1) Defined as the ability to convey new meaning and new syntax “A system of arbitrary vocal symbols which permit all people in a given culture or other people who have learned the system of that culture, to communicate or interact” –Finocchiaro, 1964 Systematic Acquired by all people much the same way

Language and the Brain Ch. 13

The Localization View Consists of: Broca’s Area Wernicke’s Area The Motor Cortex The Articulate Fasciculus

Broca’s Area Anterior speech cortex PRODUCTION of speech

Wernicke’s Area Posterior speech cortex UNDERSTANDING of speech

The Motor Cortex Involved with the PHYSICAL PRODUCTION of speech

The Localization View Language is HEARD and COMPREHENDED in Wernike’s area Signal is TRANSFERRED via the arcuate fasciculus to Broca’s area Broca’s area makes PREPARATIONS to produce language Motor cortex PHYSICALLY ARTICULATES the sound

The Localization View This is just the beginning of understanding how language and the brain are related May be inadequate as we learn more about the brain

The Critical Period The period when the human brain is most ready to receive input and learn a particular language PERIOD: from birth to puberty ONLY for L1 acquisition

Genie Provides some evidence against the notion that language cannot be acquired at all after the critical period Genie had no left hemisphere language facility. She was using the right hemisphere for language functions. Raises the possibility: Is our capacity for language limited to only 1 or 2 specific areas? Or is it based on more complex connections extending throughout the whole brain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUBkKNOz_k&feature=related (4.22)