GP Language and communication - Week 2_3

• Mens & Maatschappij
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Language and communication

2. Learning a language

These weeks ..

.. you will learn about feral children and what they meant for language acquisition research

.. we will discuss how learning (and losing) a language works

.. we will discuss the concept of a universal language

Why do we use language?

1. The importance of language

Communicate ideas

Think

Express who we are

Do you know other types of language than out spoken languages? 

Are these "languages"?

Computer programming?

Fantasy languages (Elvish in the Lord of the Rings for example)

Why not?

A language has native speakers

In a language, you can speak about everything

A language is used/recognized by a group

Is sign language a "real" language?

Explain with the 3 characteristics of languages!

YES, sign language is a language!

Are there people without a language?

Google "feral children". What do you find?

Critical period

Article

Critical period

1. What was the initial hypothesis of the researchers about the critical age for learning a language?

2. What did researchers find out?

3. How did they find this?

2. Learning a language

In groups, discuss the different questions

- Skinner (psychologist) Imitation (parents, brothers/sisters), behaviorism

- But: children also produce forms like Ik eette. This form can't be imitated, right?

2. Learning a language

How do you think a child learns his/her first language?

Different theories:

1.  Skinner (psychologist) Imitation (parents, brothers/sisters), behaviorism

- But: children also produce forms like Ik eette. This form can't be imitated, right?

2. Learning a language

2. Learning a language

2. The theory of Universal Grammar: 

Children can recognize linguistic patterns because they are born with grammatical categories (verbs etc.)

Chomsky:

YES, there are people without a language

Can people lose their language?

Google it!

(If it's too hard, google "Aphasia")

Watch the video in the next slide.

How to learn a new language?

Write down the strategies named in the video.

What is the thing that all polyglots have in common?

Do you like learning new languages? Why/why not?

Taalkunde Olympiade

Choose one of the assignments in one of these categories:

- Historical linguistics: Riyukyu

- General linguistics: Swahili, Baskisch, Artsji

- Writings/different alphabets: Chinese

- Dutch linguistics

Link to the assignments: Leiden University

Duolingo : the learning experiment

Experiment

Install the app “Duolingo” and pick a language you would love to learn. From this day on, you will start the 4 weeks “language learning” challenge! You can choose between “casual” (5 min. a day), “regular” (10 min. a day), “serious” (15 min. a day) or “insane” (20 min. a day); every single one is okay, as long as you keep on repeating it every day. (Repetition is the most important for our experiment)

How many languages are there in the world?

Being bilingual

In groups, answer the following questions:

- Which languages do you speak and where and when do you speak which language?

- Do you think being bilingual is an advantage? Why (not)?

- Read the article (button below). Summarize it in your own words (around 10 sentences)

- Imagine: you want to raise your child with 2 languages. What will be your strategy?

https://www.edutopia.org/article/benefits-being-bilingual/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Being bilingual

Video

Which language is according to you, the most important language in the world? Give 2 arguments.

Which are the most important languages in the world based on 1) number of speakers 

2) geographic regions 

3) usability/versatility? 

Discuss and write down ..