1. 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

2. 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

3. What is language?

4. 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

5. Language and the Brain
Ch. 13

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

8. Broca’s Area
Anterior speech cortex
PRODUCTION of speech

9. Wernicke’s Area
Posterior speech cortex
UNDERSTANDING of speech

10. The Motor Cortex
Involved with the PHYSICAL PRODUCTION of speech

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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?
(4.22)