p
 




 


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@ What does it mean to know a language?

The answer to this question varies according to the perspective of the

person who is being asked (academic linguist, a language user, a language
learner).

@ In the Grammar-Translation method, it was thought that by only

learning the grammar and vocabulary you will know how to use a
language.

@ What is the problem with this method?

@ Do you think that the language learner would be successful in using the
language?
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@ There two types of language knowledge:

1. Linguistic knowledge
2. Communicative knowledge
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@ There are two views of linguistics competence:

@ Grammar-Translation method (traditional language teaching)

@ Chomsky·s Universal Grammar

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Grammar-Translation:

@ Isolating the formal systems of language (i.e. pronunciation,

grammar, and vocabulary) can be helpful as a first step.

@ However, the traditional language teaching method should not

imply that this is the language learning there is.

@ An emphasis on correctness can be seen as a strategic staging of

information.
Example: How do you learn to drive a car?
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@ Chomsky·s Universal Grammar:

@ Chomsky·s idea is that the human capacity for language, as

illustrated by child acquisition of the language around them,
it is not the product of general intelligence or learning ability,
but an innate, genetically determined feature of the human
species.
@ We are born with considerable pre-programmed knowledge
of how language works.
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@ èroblems with Chomsky·s theory:

@ Language becomes more biological than social and similarities

between languages outweigh the differences

@ Language is separated from other factors such as body language

and cultural knowledge.

@ In applied linguistics, this theory can have a reductive and

constraining effect, excluding those factors with which applied
linguistics is most concerned.
 

 
 


@ The communicative language theory developed by Dell

Hymes in the 1960·s was a reaction to the theory of
Universal Grammar and Linguistic competence.
 

 
 


@ According to Hymes, a person who linguistic competence

doesn·t necessarily mean that he/she would be able to
communicate using that knowledge.

@ Examples: Children abuse

 

 
 

@ Hymes suggests that in order to be able to communicate
language, a person should acquire four types of knowledge:

1. èossibility
2. Feasibility
3. Appropriateness
4. attestedness
è



@ A competent speaker knows what is formally possible in a
language.
@ Example:
´Me sleep nowµ
It breaks the rules of the language and present a structure that is
not acceptable in the English language.
´I am going to go to sleepµ
Is the same expression but this time it follows the rules.
[ 



@ A communicative competent person knows what is feasible.
This is a psychological concept concerned with limitations to
what can be processed in the mind.

@ The rules of English grammar makes it possible to expand by

adding a relative clause.
The cheese was green.
The cheese the rat ate was green.
The cheese that rat the cat chased ate was green.
The cheese the rat the cat the dog saw chased ate the green
cheese.
The cheese the rat the cat the dog the man beat saw chased ate
was green.

@ The last two sentences are hardly ones to be used in communication.

@ It is not because its wrong but because they are difficult to process.
@ Look at this text:

´if a premium remains in default after the end of its grace

period, any cash surrender value of the èolicy will be used to
continue the policy in force as paid up insurance or as
extended term insurance, in an amount as determined below,
and no further premiums will be dueµ.

Can you understand this???

£


@ This is the third kind of knowledge to acquire to be able to be
a competent language user.

@ Using language to suit the situation:

example: ´calling a police officer darlingµ

£

@ It means ´whether something is doneµ
@ Example:
Chips and fish

It is possible, feasible, and appropriate.

However, people are used to saying:

Fish and Chips
½

 

 

 


@ It was applied in teaching as the communicative approach

@ However, people jumped to market the concept of using
language into isolated teaching exercises.
@ Also, the issue of appropriateness was enforced to the
teaching of American or British culture with no way for
individual expression.
[


@ Language Knowledge is a combination of the two theories.

@ There is no language without biology and social interaction.