Metalinguistics n Definition n It’s a ‘Meta’ –Metacognition –Metalinguistics n Theorists: –VanKleeck- –Clark- n Emergent-Literacy through VanKleeck

Metalinguistics Importance #2 n Importance: the pinnacle of language development –ability to analyze language –use ‘higher forms’ –oral language-literacy connection

Aspects of Metalinguistics #3 n 1. Taxonomies –VanKleeck-more literacy focused –Clark more language focused n 2. Comprises n 1. Meta-components n meta p,p,s,s n 2. Performatives –humor –figurative language n idiomsproverbs n metaphors similes n 3. Emergent Literacy

Clark’s Taxonomy, 1.6-4yrs Clark’s Taxonomy, 1.6-4yrs n years –Monitor’s one’s on-going utterances n repair spontaneously n practice sounds, words simple sentences n adjust one’s speech to different listeners n 3-4 years –Check the results of one’s utterance n check whether the listener has understood: if not repair n comment explicitly on own utterances and those of others n correct others

Clark’s taxonomy, 3-4 yrs. cont. n 3-4 years, continued –test for reality n decide whether a word or sentence ‘works in furthering listener understanding –attempt to learn language deliberately n practice new sounds,words, sentences n practice speech styles of different roles

Clark’s taxonomy, School-age n School-age –predict consequences of using particular forms (inflections, words, phrases sentences) n apply appropriate inflections to ‘new’ words n judge utterances as appropriate for a speech listener or setting n correct word order and wording in sentences judged as ‘wrong’

Clark’s Taxonomy, School Age finish –reflect on the product of an utterance n identify specific linguistic units n explains why some sentences are possible and how to interpret them n provide definitions of words, multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms n uses performatives

Metalinguistic Taxonomies n Clarks taxonomy n Van Kleecks (more emergent literacy focused) –Four Stages –Stage I (Age 1.6-2) n distinguishes Print from non-print n knows how to interact with books: right side up, turning from left to right n Recognizes some printed symbols brand names (logographic)

VanKleeck’s Taxonomy #VK2 n Phase II ( Ages 2-6) –ascertains word boundaries in spoken sentences –ascertains word boundaries in printed words –engages in word substitution play –plays with the sounds of the language –begins to talk about language parts of about talking ( speech acts) –corrects own speech/language to help the listener understand the message (spontaneously or in response to the listener request) –self-monitors own speech and makes changes to more closely approximate the adult model; phonological first, lexical and semantic speech style last –believes that a word is an integral part of the object to which it refers (word realism) –inability to consider that one word could have different meanings

Van Kleeck’s Taxonomy #VK3 n Stage 3 (ages 6-10) –Begins to take listener perspective and use language form to match –Understands verbal humor involving linguistic ambiguity: riddles –Able to resolve ambiguity n lexical first: homophones n deep structure (will you join me in a bowl of soup n morphologic/phonologic (What do you have if you put three ducks in a box? “A box of quackers)

Van Kleek’s Taxonomy #VK4 –Able to understand word can have multiple meanings –Able to resequence language elements n (brown, the, fence fox, over, jumped, the) –Able to segment syllables into phonemes –Finds it difficult to appreciate Figurative Forms other than Idioms n Stage IV (Ages 10 + –Able to extend language meaning to figurative language ( hypothetical realms for metaphors, similes, parodies, analogies) –Able to manipulate various speech styles to fit a variety of contexts and listeners

Metalinguistics’s Skills n Metalinguistic Components –1. Meta-components n meta p,p,s,s –Metapragmatics: ‘Why” it’s important to say “Thank you” –Metaphonology: phonemic awareness –Metasemantics: explaining what a word means, multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, multiple meaning words –Metasyntax: parts of speech, diagramming

Metalinguistics Components –2. Performatives –humor –visual –verbal n inferential (deep structure) n ambiguity –figurative language n idioms: Strike a bargain, hop a plane, break a date n metaphors: Your teeth are like stars, they come out at night n proverbs: A penny saved, is a penny earned n analogies: A father is a man, a mother is a …. n Similes

Metalinguistics Components Metalinguistics Components n -3. Emergent Literacy n Text manipulation n Discourse Competency n Text Comprehension n Phonologic Awareness

METALINGUISTICS Summary n 1. Definition n 2. Taxonomies n VanKleeck n Clark n 3. Components –1. Meta-components: pragmatics, phonology, semantics, syntax –2. Performatives n humormultiple meaning words n figurative language –idiomssimiles –proverbsmetaphors –3. Emergent Literacy

END Metalinguistic NOTES