* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LINGUIST List logo Eastern Michigan University Wayne State University *
* People & Organizations * Jobs * Calls & Conferences * Publications * Language Resources * Text & Computer Tools * Teaching & Learning * Mailing Lists * Search *
* *
 

Ask-A-Linguist - Message details
Subject: Learning linguistics.
Question:
Hello. Thank you for this site.

Now, I am an ESL teacher and I want to ask: what is the best way to learn linguistics - that is, the theories behind language acquisition. If I knew this, it would benefit me and my students.

Again, thanks.

Reply:
I tend to recommend Steven Pinker's books, particularly the Language Instinct as
well as the Articulate Mammal by Jean Aitchinson, both which discusses the
assumptions behind assuming a separate language capacity.

However, I would say that most linguists distinguish child language acquisition from
second language acquisition in teens and adults. Children, unlike adults, need very
little direct instruction. Normal functional interaction with the linguistic environment is
usually sufficient for a child to acquire native speaker proficiency.

With older learners, the situation is different in that the process is not the same.
Although conversational interaction and cultural information is still important, the
acquisition process appears to be different (particularly in terms of pronunciation) -
although some say that the difference is not absolute.

In any case, I recommend treating second language acquisition as somewhat of a
separate topic with different research goals.

Reply From: Elizabeth J Pyatt    click here to access email
Date: Oct-26-2009
Other Replies:
  1. Re: Learning linguistics. Joseph F Foster    (Oct-26-2009)
  2. Re: Learning linguistics. Susan Fischer    (Oct-26-2009)
  3. Re: Learning linguistics. Robert A Papen    (Oct-26-2009)
Back to Most Recent Questions
Page Updated: 29-Nov-2009

Please report any bad links or misclassified data

LINGUIST Homepage | Read LINGUIST | Contact us

NSF Logo

While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed
on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.