Aurelio Camero

BSED English 2

Activity about the Definition of Language

Activity 1-1

After reading and understanding the various definition of language, find out how much you can
remember. What are the words common in those definitions given? What other words can you
added? How many more words have you added? Now, try writing.

- Mode of communication
- Formal and informal
- Structured system
- Arbitrary vocal symbols
- Linguistic symbols
- Speech community and culture

“ a language is consist of linguistic symbols and sounds made to be a structured system of arbitrary vocal
symbols use in communication- formal and informal, and operate in speech community and culture”

SAQ 1-1

Let's find out if you were able to take note of the salient features of each advocate definition by
supplying the missing word or phrase in each of the following statement.

 According to the transformalist language is a (1) system which relates meaning to

substance.
 The symbols of language have (2) conventionalized meaning to which they refer
 language is systematic and (3) generative and social scientists look at language as an (4)
open system interacting with, change by, and changing its environment as part of (5)
culture.
 Wardhaugh views language as a system of (6) arbitrary vocal symbols used for human
communication.
 In modern linguistics, language is a (7) structured system of arbitrary vocal sounds and
sequences of sounds used in interpersonal communication.
 Language is essentially human although not possibly (8) limited to humans.
 Language is (9) universal to all human beings.
  Speech is (10) primary over writing.

Activity 1-2

As a language teacher which theory will you follow, the cognitive-code learning theory or the
audiolingual habit theory? Are you happy with your choice? Why?

- The two was merely having a objective of building a blocks of knowledge in learning the second
language or the foreign language, thus for me my most percentage of choosing what’s the best
was for the audiolingual habit theory because we can teach them effectively for by making them
adopt the language more, by making familiar them with the sound patterns and not as the other
theory who’s telling that language can be thought by giving them how to use grammars
correctly making them conscious of the use of rules. For example a filipino child can not able to
learn to write but has the ability to hear thus this can explain that a alien language can not be
thought by forcing a child to familiarized with the rules of language, mostly a child adopt the use
of language bit by bit, imitating sounds little by little until such time a grammar can be flow
normally.

SAQ 1-2

A sentence outline on the theories about the nature of language and their proponents and
followers:

I. The Behaviorist/ Empiricist Theory has the following features:

A. Its major proponents are Leonard Bloomfield, B.F. Skinner and Charles Fries

B. It views language as

1. a set of arbitrary symbols

2. a system of habits

3. an acquired behavior through conditioning and reinforcement

4. a surface structure

ll. The Rationalist/ Cognitivist/ Mentalistic Theory has the following features:

A. Its major proponent is Noam Chomsky.

B. It views language as

1. a mental process

2. a construction process;

3. a rule- governed behavior;

4. having a speaker-hearer who has internalized the rules of the language;

5. having a universal grammar;

6. having a deep structure as well as a surface structure.

lll. The Nativist Theory has the following features

A. Its major proponents is Eric Lenneberg

B. It views language as

1. an innate or inborn capacity of man;

2. specie- specific;

3. a capacity of man because he has LAD- language acquisition device

IV. The Sociolinguistic Theory has the following features:

A. Its major proponents are Dell Hymes and Michael A.K. Halliday

B. It advocates the following views:

1. The communicative theory is important since it presents the view that language is for
communication and that

2. there are a number of processes involved such as input encoding and output decoding

3. that language is not only a set of rules of formation but also a set of rules for the use of
language.

V. The Pragmatic Theory has the following features:

A. Its major proponent is John Oller

B. It advocates the following views:

 1. Participants in a conservation should have shared knowledge or presupposition

2. Language has two elements. These are

a. Factive or cognitive elements which refers to the use of language through words ,
phrase and sentences.

b. Emotive or affective attitudinal element which is man's outlook about others and his
non-verbal communication.