Basics of Language for Language Learners
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
How Language Works
Changes to the Second Edition
Acknowledgments
SECTION I Tools and Strategies for Language Learning
What Can We Learn from First Language Acquisition?
THE BASICS OF FIRST LANGUAGE LEARNING
WHAT ARE THE CAPACITIES OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE LEARNER?
WHAT IS THE COURSE OF FIRST LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT?
WHAT KINDS OF INFORMATION ARE CHILDREN EXPOSED TO?
WHAT KINDS OF MISTAKES DO CHILDREN MAKE, AND WHY?
CRITICAL PERIOD
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
Activities
References
Understanding Complex Tasks
Complex Activities like Juggling and Language Require
Coordination
Sequencing
Speed
Basic Physical Components of Performing Juggling and Language
1. KISS (THE KISS PRINCIPLE—KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID)
3. SLOW PRACTICE
4. GET FEEDBACK AND CORRECTION
Introduction
Getting Words from Temporary Memory to Permanent Memory
Flash Cards
Chunking
References
What’s in a Dictionary
Choosing a Dictionary
Cross-Referencing Basics
Using a Dictionary
The Alphabets of Finnish and Turkish
Using an Online Dictionary
References
SECTION II Sounding like a Native Speaker
Knowing How to Speak a Language
Strategy 1
Strategy 2
Strategy 3
Your Strategies
TONE
INTONATION
Summary
Reference
Introduction
Sounds, Not Letters!
Creating Speech Sounds
PARTS OF THE VOCAL TRACT INVOLVED IN MAKING SOUNDS
PLACES WHERE THE AIR PASSAGE IS NARROWED FOR CONSONANTS
English Consonant + Palatal
NARROWNESS OF THE AIR PASSAGE
AIRFLOW THROUGH THE NOSE AND MOUTH
Nasals
POSITION OF THE VOCAL FOLDS
Voiced and Voiceless Consonants
LENGTH OF THE CONSONANT
Summary
Reference
Making a Vowel Sound
Horizontal Tongue Movement
Narrowness of the Air Passage
The Shape of the Lips
Changing Vowel Quality from Start to Finish: Diphthongs
Airflow through the Mouth and Nose
Length of the Vowel
Summary
Reference
Introduction
ENGLISH SOUND SEQUENCES: WORD-INITIAL
WORD-INITIAL SEQUENCES IN OTHER LANGUAGES
ENGLISH SOUND SEQUENCES: WORD-FINAL
WORD-FINAL SEQUENCES IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Additional Exercises
References
Interpreting Unfamiliar Symbols
Aspiration
Exercise 1: Aspirated and Unaspirated Consonants
Alveolar vs. Dental Consonants
Exercise 2: Dentals and Alveolars
Exercise 4: Dental and Alveolar Nasals and Fricatives
Flapping
Released and Unreleased Stop Consonants
Full and Reduced Vowels
Monophthongs vs. Diphthongs
Unrounded High Central or Back Vowels
Summary
SECTION III Thinking like a Native Speaker
Accent: A Feeling for Form
Grammar: Knowing the Rules
Exercise
Categories
Summary
Additional Exercises
References
Introduction
Nouns
There are several basic types of nouns in English
Do Other Languages Have Nouns?
WHAT IS A DETERMINER?
Basic Noun Phrase Rule (English)
Grammatical Gender
WHERE DO DETERMINERS GO?
LEARNING TO USE DETERMINERS
References
Describing Things
ADJECTIVES IN ENGLISH
Exercise 1
ADJECTIVES IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Exercise 3
RELATIVE CLAUSES IN ENGLISH
RELATIVE CLAUSES IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Summary
References
Introduction
Some Errors in English
Verbs and Verb Phrases
Grammatical Structure and Roles
Transitive and Intransitive
Identifying the Participants in an Event or State
Roles
Basic Roles
Subject and Object across Languages
WORD ORDER
CASE
AGREEMENT
PREPOSITIONS
Agent/Theme Rule (English)
Exercise 2: Passives
Additional Exercises
References
Introduction
Tense and Time
The Relationship between Time and Tense
English Auxiliary Verbs
Future Tense Inflections in Other Languages
Aspect
The Problem of Aspect
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
References
Sentence Form and Function
QUESTIONS
WH-QUESTIONS
IMPERATIVES
Exercise 2
Using Sentence Form to Communicate Ideas
Exercise 3: Form, Function, and Force
Language Meaning
Reference
SECTION IV Acting like a Native Speaker
Introduction
Language and Culture
Exercise 2: Hello, Good-bye
Language Varieties
LANGUAGE AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIAL IDENTITY
WHAT MAKES A LANGUAGE BE PERCEIVED AS MORE PRESTIGIOUS?
Relation to Language Learning
Culture in Language
GESTURE IN COMMUNICATION
SAME GESTURE, DIFFERENT MEANING
VARIATIONS IN GESTURES
References
Introduction
Solidarity and Deference
Expressing Politeness in English
SIMILAR STRATEGY, DIFFERENT RESPONSE
THE NATURE OF THE COMPLIMENT
The Expression of Politeness in Grammar
References
Introduction
Swearing, Insults, and Language Learning
SEX
RELIGION
SOCIAL STATUS
References
Language Is a Skill and Practice Is Essential
Look at Your Own Language
How to Use This Knowledge
Subject Index
Language Index