TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE.

ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A

COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION: SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT
1. The Origin of Language and Communication By age of four, most humans have developed an ability to communicate through oral
language. By age six or seven, most humans can comprehend and express with written thoughts and this ability is unique from humans. These
unique abilities of communicating through a native language separate humans from all animals.
1.1. A possible origin of
1.2. Evolutionary Theories of
1.3. The metaphor of Tower of
1.4. The Anatomy of speech
language
the origin of speech
Babel and Universal Language
Many researchers have focused on
the capabilities of animals (sounds The Bibles explanation of the
origin
of
multiple
human
All evolutionists admit that and gestures) in an effort to
languages is provided in the The physiological components
communication via speech is understand the physiological
Tower of Babel incident in necessary can be divided into:
uniquely human. This is often mechanism of the communication.
Genesis 11:1-9. According to this, (Johannes Muller)
used as the singular and most But there is a single key point:
God intervened and initiated the
1) Supralaryngeal vocal tract
important line between humans the worlds languages evolved
major
language
groupings
of
the
(the
modulation
of
spontaneously. They were not
and animals.
human race.
acoustic energy by the
Philip Lieberman called this line. designed.
Many
evolutionary
linguists
airway above the larynx)
Theories
consider
language
the gift of speech.
believe that all human languages
2) Larynx (sound energy for
Terrance Deacon said Human nothing more than a fortuitous
have
descended
from
a
single
and
speech is generated in the
language is one of the most chain of events. Most of these
primitive language, which itself
larynx at the vocal folds)
behavioural adaptations on the involve humans growing bigger
evolved
from
the
grunts
and
3)
Subglottal system (the
planet. Languages evolved in only brains, which makes possible for
noises
of
the
lower
animals.
lungs, trachea and their
people to develop speech and
one species.
Noam Chomsky said that a
associated
muscles
Jean Aitchison noted The language.
language
can
be
explained
only
if
provide
the
necessary
society does not accept papers on Michael Corballis stated that
one assumes that all grammars
power
for
speech
either the origin of language or language developed much more
are
variations
of
a
single,
generic
production)
the invention of a universal gradually (gestures bipedal
and universal one, and that all
hominids evolution larger brain
language.
human brains come with a built-in
genus homo development of
language organ
syntax).

TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A
COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION: SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT
2. Linguistic Theories and attempts to have a language for everyone Language is the ability humans have to exchange ideas and feelings
with others. It is an artificial creation and its purpose is communicating. Linguistics describes and explains the nature of human language.
Linguists assume the ability to acquire and use a language is an innate, biologically-based potential of modern human beings, similar to the ability to
walk.
2.1. Natural vs. artificial language
2.2. Other major linguists along history
Natural It is spoken by a community
Leonard Bloomfield (1887-1949)
Edward Sapir (1884-1939)
Noam Chomsky (1928- )
of speakers in a country or several
He was born in Lauenburg
He was born in Chicago and his uncle
countries (Spanish, English)
(Germany).
Artificial It has been created with a Maurice was a scholar in the field of He is noted for his work with the
linguistics and the second president of
purpose in mind, for instance with traffic
ethnology and linguistics of
the Linguistic Society.
signs or in the case of Esperanto.
native American groups, and Chomskys Generative
Leonard spent most of his time
Linguistics was born in 1916 thanks to the
saw language as a verbal Grammar says that all
comparing and contrasting Germanic
Course on General Linguistics by
symbol of human relations. languages have a finite
languages.
Saussure [a language as a system of signs].
Sapir stressed that language number of basic sentence
He eventually became more interested
Saussure sets that language is made up of
shapes our perceptions, and he structures which originate
in the description of languages, and
signs and every sign has two sides:
thought
that
understanding an almost endless number
how they pertained to science.
1) SIGNIFIER the shape of a word
cultural
behaviour
was of messages.
He had six main publications:
impossible
unless
its It is well-known as
(the sequence of letters or phonemes or
1) (1914) Introduction to the
development through language Generative
acoustic image)
Study of Language.
was traced.
Transformational
e.g. T-R-E-E
2) (1917) Tagalog Texts with
He was interested in the more Grammar, and it is an
2) SIGNIFIED the concept
Grammatical Analysis.
abstract connections between innate universal grammar,
transmitted (the concept or object that
3) (1928) Menomini Texts.
personality, verbal expression which is common to all
appears in our minds when we hear or read
4) (1933) Language.
and
socially
determined languages.
the signifier)
5) (1935) The Stressed vowels of
behaviour.
e.g. plant with roots, large trunk and
American English.
Language or languages are just
leaves.
6) (1939) Linguistics Aspects of
incidental means of solving
The relation between them is arbitrary
Science.
problems of communication.
(no direct connection).

TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A
COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION: SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT
3. Language as communication: Oral Language Language learning has been seen as something which has been used with real-life purposes
3.1. Characteristics of
3.2. Aspects of Oral Language
3.3. A methodology for Oral Language
Oral Language
PHONETIC
1) The organization of a message: 2 types of speakers:
1) Methodological principles:
- Free-association speakers (orderly way of communicating)
Constant and practical use a language is learnt
Phonemes
Confusing
speakers
(turns
are
randomly)
PROSODIC
through socialization, and language awareness too.
ELEMENTS
2) Linguistic resources:
Motivation interest from the pupils through
- Phonetic (articulation, pause, stress, intonation and rhythm)
Intonation and rhythm
tasks that catch their attention and desire to
Oral
Language
is - Lexico-semantic
participate.
spontaneous, this allows - Morphosyntactic.
2) Main ways and techniques for oral communication:
mistakes
and 3) Extralinguistic resources: Gestures and Body language.
Dialogues:
understands
it
as 4) Affective aspects:
- Free and spontaneous conversation.
- 3 types of speakers:
reasonable.
- Discussion.
Listen to himself/herself, Egocentric, and Shy.
- Drama play.
- 3 types of hearers:
- Interview and surveys.
Only me speaking, Distracted, and Pro Monologues: speech through different stages:
monologue.
- Selection of a topic.
- Information searching.
- Giving linguistic form to the content.
4. The Evaluation of Oral Language in class Evaluation must be:
1) continuous and formative,
2) carried out individually, considering that each pupil is different,
3) tactful. With evaluation we measure that the objectives must be achieved gradually.
Evaluation should observe the following principles:
1) good atmosphere in class, 2) self-evaluation (pupils know how they are doing), 3) self-correction, 4) Objectives are graded (things are done
little by little).
Teachers should establish scoring criteria for a range of grade levels and identify three categories of proficiency:
1) Non-English proficient (NEP), 2) limited English proficient (LEP), and 3) Fluent English proficient (FEP).

TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A
COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION: SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT
In advance of the oral assessment, students should be provided with an explanation of how they will be rated.
5. The Written Language
6. The Evaluation of Written Language in class
Written language follows a number of rigid rules and conventions.
An example for written assessment could be:
Written production has more liberty to go beyond the rules fixed by
written language and can create its own messages in an unpredictable
WRITING TASK CRITERIA
way.
Ideas to teach writing could be:
1. WRITING SKILLS:
- Teach at the same time when pupils learn to read.
- Writing does not start with letters (i.e. drawing)
Writes comprehensible stories ___________________________
- Writing must not be started too early.
Use of Vocabulary ____________________________________
- Writing must be understood as a fundamental part of
education.
2. INTEREST:
Ideas about how learn writing:
- How the pencil is taken.
Initiates own writing ___________________________________
- Right body position and paper holding.
Shows pleasure in writing _______________________________
- Shape and size of the letters.
Selects books independently _____________________________
- Orthography.
- Separation between words and letters.
3. APPLICATIONS:
To learn writing, three moments must be considered:
1) Copying what the pupils see 8worrying for details)
Participates in language experience story development _________
2) Dictation what the pupils hear (good for spelling and listening).
Participates in reading & writing discussion groups ____________
3) Written composition what the pupils think (creativity and
Uses reading in written communication _____________________
autonomy).

TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE. ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A
COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION: SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT

7. A comparison between Oral Language and Written Language

ORAL LANGUAGE
WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Gradual progress (little by little).
Gradual progress (little by little).
A vehicle of daily communication.
A vehicle for communication when oral one is not possible.
Phonic and auditory inconveniences.
Orthography difficulties.
Spontaneous.
Time for correction and thinking.
Interlocutor is present.
No direct influence from an interlocutor.
Subjective (express his/her own feelings and views of life).
Objectives: thematic unity, an ability to be precise in the way ideas are
Direct influence of affective aspects.
expressed, order, clarity and coherence.
Methodology: participation, social skills, individualisation, motivation.
Methodology: participation, individualisation, motivation.
Evaluation: Orthography, use of vocabulary, written expressions.
Evaluation: Pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

8. Elements that determine a communicative situation Communication means the interaction between speaker/hearer or writer/reader
intended for the delivery of information which is completely or partly unknown to the hearer/reader.
8.1. Elements of communication
8.2. Means of communication
8.3. Functions of language
The
Prague
School
understands
communication as a primary purpose of
language use.
Two important theoreticians are:
- Karl Bhler Communication is
Usually through written or oral language, but
representational, expressive and calling.
also through hand-shaking, traffic lights,
- Jackobson Communication is
greetings with your hand or your head
referential (contextual information), emotive
(self-expression), conative (vocative or
imperative), phatic (checking channel
working), metalinguistic (checking code
working) and poetic (autotelic).

TOPIC 1: LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION, ORAL AND WRITTEN

LANGUAGE. ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE A COMMUNICATIVE SITUATION:
SENDER, RECEIVER, FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTEXT
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

DEVITO, J.A. (2008). Human Communication: The Basic Course. Allyn &
Bacon Publishers.
FRASER, B. (1983). The Domain of Pragmatics. New York: Longman.
HALLIDAY, M. (1989). Spoken and Written Language. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
KRASHEN, S. (1982). Principles and Practice in Second Language
Acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press.