What is Applied Linguistics?

Description of the subsystems of language and how teachers can draw on their knowledge of language and its subsystems to support ELs in their acquisition of language

1. What is Applied Linguistics?

2. Objectives: Define language and its subsystems; including phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, discourse and pragmatics . Describe how teachers can draw on their knowledge of language and its subsystems to support ELs in their acquisition of language

3. Before we address Applied Linguistics, it’s important to understand LINGUISTICS

4. What is Linguistics?

5. LINGUISTICS “Broadly defined, linguistics is the study of language.” (Freeman & Freeman, 2014, p. 9) And language is “the systematic, conventional use of sounds, signs, or written symbols in a human society for communication and self-expression.” (Crystal, 2001, p. 184) SOURCE: Crystal, D. (2001). A dictionary of language (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. The goal of linguistics is to describe the varieties of languages and explain the unconscious knowledge all speakers have of their language.

6. LINGUISTICS Linguistics involves the analysis of the form, meaning, and context of language. Language Form: Phonology Morphology Syntax Language Meaning: Semantics Language Context: Pragmatics

7. Traditionally studied by linguists These are known as the subsystems of language Phonology Syntax Morphology Semantics Pragmatics

8. SUBSYSTEMS OF LANGUAGE Phonology “The study of the sound systems of language” (Wright, 2015, p. 31) Includes phonemes : the smallest unit of sound Knowledge of phonology helps teachers understand issues related to pronunciation, accents, and regional varieties of English SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon

9. SUN /s/ /u/ /n/ MOON /m/ /oo/ /n/ Phonemes English Alphabet 26 letters 44 phonemes

10. Make a list of the letters of the alphabet and their phonemes How many phonemes did you find? Check out the answer here!

11. SUBSYSTEMS OF LANGUAGE “The study of the structure of words” (Wright, 2015, p. 32) Includes morphemes : the smallest unit that carry meaning or have grammatical function Knowledge of morphology helps teachers teach students how to change verb tenses, make compound words, plurals and possessives, comparatives and superlatives, and how to use contractions. SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon Morphology

12. Morphemes nonperishable 1 2 2 prefix base suffix 5 Syllables → 3 Morphemes → Morphemes ≠ Syllables

13. The girl hardly touched her food. How many morphemes did you find?

14. SUBSYSTEMS OF LANGUAGE “The study of the rules governing the way words are combined to form sentences and rules governing the arrangement of sentences in sequence.” (Wright, 2015, p. 33) It is the relationship between words Knowledge of syntax helps teachers teach students how to produce grammatically correct sentences SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon Syntax

15. I nto the pole the car red crashed. The red car crashed into the pole . Use these two sentences to explain what syntax means

16. SUBSYSTEMS OF LANGUAGE “The study of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.” (Wright, 2015, p. 33) Includes the relationship between words: Synonyms Antonyms Homophones Homonyms Also addresses mood and cognates Knowledge of semantics helps teachers teach students to know and infer the meaning of words in isolation and in context SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon Semantics Hyponyms Converseness Polysemy Part/Whole Relationships

17. Use the examples to define the terms What is... Examples Polysemy? Bank Mole Converseness? Boss - employee Married - single Hyponyms? Utensil: spoon Shape: triangle Rational Pairs? Buy - sell Push - pull

18. SUBSYSTEMS OF LANGUAGE “The study of language from the point of view of the users, especially in terms of the choices they make, the constraints they encounter in using language in social interaction, and the effects their language use has on the other participants in an act of communication..” (Wright, 2015, p. 34) Language in context Knowledge of pragmatics helps teachers teach students how to understand how language users interpret language SOURCE: Wright, W. E. (2015) Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. PA: Caslon Pragmatics

19. Before moving on, try to answer the following questions: What is linguistics? What is language? What are the subsystems of language?

20. If you couldn’t answer the three questions, please do not continue. Instead, revisit slides 4-18

21. What is Applied L inguistics?

22. Video: What is Applied Linguistics? As you view this video, pay attention to how applied linguistics is different from linguistics

23. APPLIED LINGUISTICS Applied linguistics is the field of study that identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language related problems. It deals with both native and second language acquisition Applied linguistics describes the language and teaches how it is learned and used.

24. APPLIED LINGUISTICS Taking language and language theories as the basis from which to explain how communication is actually carried out in real life Identifying problematic or challenging issues involving language in many different contexts Analyzing these issues in order to draw out practical understandings and implications that are useful for the people in those contexts Offering practical and helpful insights into how language and communication contribute to interaction between people Attempting to work with language in a critical and reflective way, with an ultimate practical goal in mind Means...

25. APPLIED LINGUISTICS Applied linguistics is one of several academic disciplines that focuses on how language is acquired and used in the modern world However, teachers of English learners do not need the same detailed knowledge about applied linguistics that a teacher of applied linguistics would need. Instead, they need to understand the basic concepts of linguistics, language acquisition, and pedagogical language knowledge. For teachers of English learners

26. How can teachers draw on their knowledge of language and its subsystems to support ELs in their acquisition of language?

27. Teachers of ELs Need to Know Basics of Linguistics The subsystems of language Language Acquisition First language acquisition theories and principles Second language acquisition theories and principles Pedagogical Language Knowledge How to teach the English language required to read, write, listen and speak in the different content areas

28. The Roles of Teachers of English Learners Teacher as Communicator Teachers need to understand their students. This requires an understanding of alternate discourse patterns. Teachers also need to know how to provide comprehensible oral input. Teacher as Educator Teachers need to understand language development. This allows teachers to distinguish between cognitive problems and second language problems. In addition, teachers need to teach students to read and write in the different content areas. Teacher as Evaluator Teachers often group students for instruction. English learners may have different ways of using language and of interacting than middle class native English speakers do. In evaluating students, then, it is important to understand the differences between ways students from different backgrounds use language. Teacher as Educated Human Being A knowledge of linguistics should be part of the general knowledge that any educated person develops. Teachers need to understand how language works, the history of their language, and differences between their language and that of their students. Teacher as Agent of Socialization For many English learners, schools represent a different culture than their home culture. Teachers are the agents who help socialize children into a new culture. Teachers need to understand children’s home cultures and languages in order to help them accommodate to the school culture. Children can make this accommodation without losing their home culture and language.

29. Knowledge of the Basics of Linguistics Phonology Knowledge of phonology helps teachers understand issues related to pronunciation, accents, and regional varieties of English Morphology Knowledge of morphology helps teachers teach students how to change verb tenses, make compound words, plurals and possessives, comparatives and superlatives, and how to use contractions. Syntax Knowledge of syntax helps teachers teach students how to produce grammatically correct sentences Semantics Knowledge of semantics helps teachers teach students to know and infer the meaning of words in isolation and in context Pragmatics Knowledge of pragmatics helps teachers teach students how to understand how language users interpret language