Mind Map: Unit 11

Unit 11:

Language Comparison, Error Analysis, Instructional Implications

Pinker:
Chapter 11 The Big Bang

• Our language instinct is as unique and ornate as an elephant’s trunk.
• According to Pinker, the language instinct has evolved as explained by Darwin’s theory of natural selection
• Language probably arose by a “revamping of primate brain circuits that originally had no role in vocal communication and by the addition of some new ones” (Pinker, 1994, p. 360).
• The origin of language occurred anywhere from 1.5 million to 200 thousand years ago but no one can be sure of the exact time period.

Pinker:
Chapter 12 Language Mavens

• Prescriptive rules are “alien to the natural workings of the language system” (Pinker, 1994, pg. 384).
• The rules do not conform to logic or tradition.
• “Many prescriptive rules of grammar are just plain dumb and should be deleted from the usage handbooks” (Pinker, 1994, pg. 414).
• Most of the rules can be traced back to the 18th century when Latin rules were being applied to English, such as, “never split an infinitive”. (Note: In Latin an infinitive cannot be split)
• According to Pinker, writing “should be mastered through practice, instruction, feedback, and most importantly, intensive exposure to good examples (pg. 416).

O’Grady: The Role of Adult Speech

• Many people believe that children learn language by imitating their parent’s speech but this is not correct.
• Children have their own grammar.
• This grammar will determine how the child’s language will develop.
• Caregiver speech: type of speech that is typically addressed to young language learners (pg. 379).
• Caregiver speech which is often slow and carefully articulated with many repetitions is helpful but not necessary for child language acquisitions.

O’Grady: The Role of Feedback

• Certain types of feedback have a role to play in the language acquisition process (pg. 380).
• Recasts: When adults respond to their child’s utterance by repeating it, making adjustments to its form and/or content (pg. 380).
• Recasts provide children with potentially useful information but more research is needed to determine the exact role that recasts play in language learning (pg. 380).

LaFontana: Throw Away that Correcting Pen

• Feedback is important when looking at student writing.
• Written feedback that only focuses on errors and that is written in the margins of a student’s paper often go unnoticed
• LaFontana suggests taped comments as opposed to written feedback.
• As students play the audio tape and listen to their teacher’s comments they record their mistakes on an error chart
• This method transfers the responsibility from teacher to student.
• The student must identify the errors within the paper, correct them, and resubmit their paper.