What can linguistics offer to What can linguistics offer to education research?education research?

What can linguistics offer to What can linguistics offer to education research?education research?

Susan GerofskyEDCP, UBC

Susan GerofskyEDCP, UBC

Outline of linguisticsOutline of linguistics

The division between theoretical & applied linguistics (based on Saussurean langue and parole, and influenced by Chomsky)

Descriptive (not prescriptive)

Principle of language equality

The division between theoretical & applied linguistics (based on Saussurean langue and parole, and influenced by Chomsky)

Descriptive (not prescriptive)

Principle of language equality

levels of analysis in theoretical linguisticslevels of analysis in theoretical linguistics

Phonetic: sounds

Phonemic: sounds distinguished within a language (determined via minimal pairs)

Morphemic: meaningful ‘bits’ distinguished within a language

Semantic/ lexical: words and their ‘fields of meaning’

Syntactic: the structure of phrases, clauses and sentences

Phonetic: sounds

Phonemic: sounds distinguished within a language (determined via minimal pairs)

Morphemic: meaningful ‘bits’ distinguished within a language

Semantic/ lexical: words and their ‘fields of meaning’

Syntactic: the structure of phrases, clauses and sentences

some examples:some examples:

Phonetics: voice onset, aspiration for initial stops in English and Mandarin (tao, pang, bao...)

Phonemes: [t] in Canadian English: teach, eaten, better, bet

Morphemes: ‘in’ --> indubitably, impossible

Semantics/ lexis: see the class reading on “just”

Syntax: Word order vs. inflection, pre- vs. post-position.German ex.: "Wir gehen am Freitag miteinander ins Kino."We go on Friday together to the movies.Mandarin ex: “Women xingqi wu yao yikwar lai kan dianying” We on Friday are going together to see a movie.

Phonetics: voice onset, aspiration for initial stops in English and Mandarin (tao, pang, bao...)

Phonemes: [t] in Canadian English: teach, eaten, better, bet

Morphemes: ‘in’ --> indubitably, impossible

Semantics/ lexis: see the class reading on “just”

Syntax: Word order vs. inflection, pre- vs. post-position.German ex.: "Wir gehen am Freitag miteinander ins Kino."We go on Friday together to the movies.Mandarin ex: “Women xingqi wu yao yikwar lai kan dianying” We on Friday are going together to see a movie.

applied Linguistics includes:applied Linguistics includes:

psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, lexicography

pragmatics, discourse analysis, L1 & L2 acquisition

language pedagogy, bi/multilingualism, speech & language therapy, language assessment, language policies

translation, literary linguistics, computer-mediated communication, cognitive science/ AI

psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, lexicography

pragmatics, discourse analysis, L1 & L2 acquisition

language pedagogy, bi/multilingualism, speech & language therapy, language assessment, language policies

translation, literary linguistics, computer-mediated communication, cognitive science/ AI

how can this help educators?how can this help educators?

As in the applied science, basic research helps give a truer analysis of ‘the way things are’ and ‘the way things work’, which improves the quality of the applications.

Example from bilingualism studies (next slide...)

As in the applied science, basic research helps give a truer analysis of ‘the way things are’ and ‘the way things work’, which improves the quality of the applications.

Example from bilingualism studies (next slide...)

Some things linguists know about bi/multilingualism:Some things linguists know about bi/multilingualism:

Diglossia: different languages used by the same person for different purposes

Simultaneous vs. sequential bilingualism

Code-switching and language-switching

Non-convergent bilingualism: Two people can speak together in different (but often related) languages

Terms like ‘L1’/’mother tongue’, ‘fluent’, ‘bilingual’, ‘literate’ etc. are fraught and inadequate to describe many people’s language knowledge

Questions of affect with L1 & L2

Losing and forgetting languages; pidgins, creoles, language loss

Diglossia: different languages used by the same person for different purposes

Simultaneous vs. sequential bilingualism

Code-switching and language-switching

Non-convergent bilingualism: Two people can speak together in different (but often related) languages

Terms like ‘L1’/’mother tongue’, ‘fluent’, ‘bilingual’, ‘literate’ etc. are fraught and inadequate to describe many people’s language knowledge

Questions of affect with L1 & L2

Losing and forgetting languages; pidgins, creoles, language loss