Linguistics

Challenges Related to Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and Literacy Education Classroom teachers of the 21st century have a demanding mission to accomplish- meeting the literacy needs of all their students. In many states, including Tennessee, the inclusion classroom has become the accepted practice and placement for all students. Educators are being asked to instruct a diverse group of students, including the increasing amount of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds…

population has shifted representing an increasingly diverse world of linguistic flexibility. The refusal to acknowledge the language resources of students and their families limits the possibilities for students’ educational success and achievement and shuts down opportunities for the development of multilingualism” (Hornberger and Link p. 262). On the other hand, just as was described in Beatriz's scenario, when the students' linguistic resources are valued, then the students see greater…

Language acquisition plays a key role in a child’s development as it is a prerequisite to gaining knowledge and skills. In the area of language acquisition, there are two areas that have caused controversy among scientists. These two areas are known as nature and nurture. There is evidence to prove that both the areas have an influence on a child’s development. This theory is known as nature vs nurture. The two sides of this theory are compared as there are people on each side who believe that…

It is from this concept that Saussure uses the interconnection between cultural structures and linguistic structures to further describe his linguistic theories. The sociology of human interaction is an arbitrary structure of rules and conventions that only have meaning due to the connotations that are placed there by the system it exists in. One of Saussure’s most prominent…

society in which s/he lives during that period of their lives, s/he will remain unable to speak, or faces many challenges in later life. After puberty this window is closed and the learning of the language becomes more difficult. Moreover, CPH in Linguistics is known as a time period of the first thirteen years of a child’s life, during which s/he acquires language…

Linguistic complexity is commonly defined as the variedness and elaborateness of language production (Ellis, 2003). The definition resembles the philosophical definition of complexity as a function of the number of a system’s constituent elements, the variety of these constituents, and the elaborateness of their inter- relations (Rescher, 1998). Accordingly, the measurement of linguistic complex- ity involves quantitatively measuring the number and nature of linguistic sub- components and the…

language. Although English is the de facto language of the United States, the Constitution makes "no reference to choice of a national language" (Heath, 1995, p.179). This tolerance of foreign languages, along with mass immigration, has enriched the linguistic diversity in the United States. Not surprisingly, this diversity has also made multilingual education an important component of American schooling—most American high schools and universities require students to learn a foreign language.…

others will not have to guess the meaning of what we are saying. Simon points out that language will change by inventing new words, but that does not mean that our language’s foundation has to change as well. Simon aggressively speaks out against the linguistic evolution of language, an evolution which hinders verbal communication. He refers to it as being a “flood of ignorance” (209). Linguists will say that the language is just evolving, but conservatives like John Simon know that language…

The educational system in America has seen a great change in the way schools service their cultural and linguistic learners. Once pushed aside as bystanders by teachers waiting for the English language to arrive so instruction could begin, the professional educator today realizes a student’s primary language is a great resource to be utilized when acquiring the second language. School systems have accepted the fact cultural diversity is now the norm in education therefore, many educators like…

enables us to convey and interpret messages and to negotiate meanings interpersonally within specific contexts” (p.36). It includes four sub-competences which are interconnected and they cannot develop separately. These four competences are: _ Linguistic Competence: is related to language knowledge such as spelling, structure and pronunciation. – Sociolinguistic (pragmatic competence): implies an understanding of the way of using the language properly in certain social contexts. – Discourse…