The document discusses several key aspects of language, including grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and their interrelationships. It defines grammar as the study of syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Vocabulary is important for comprehending language and becomes easier to learn at older ages. Pronunciation is more difficult to acquire beyond puberty. The document also discusses descriptive and prescriptive grammar, grammaticality, and how computer tools can aid the analysis of vocabulary.

1. Focus onFocus on
LanguageLanguage
Prepared by:
Jane Charity A. Estrada

2. Grammar on Focus
Grammar … teaches us how to make use of words;
that is to say, it teaches us how to make use of them
in the proper manner… to be able to choose the words
which ought to be placed, we must be acquainted
with certain principles and rules; and these principles
and rules constitute what is called Grammar.
~ Cobbett, 1819
Grammar … teaches us how to make use of words;
that is to say, it teaches us how to make use of them
in the proper manner… to be able to choose the words
which ought to be placed, we must be acquainted
with certain principles and rules; and these principles
and rules constitute what is called Grammar.
~ Cobbett, 1819

3. Grammar – an analysis of the structure of a
language, either as encountered in a corpus of speech
or writing (performance grammar) or as predictive of
a speaker’s knowledge (competence grammar)
Types:
1.Descriptive Grammar
2.Prescriptive Grammar
Grammar – an analysis of the structure of a
language, either as encountered in a corpus of speech
or writing (performance grammar) or as predictive of
a speaker’s knowledge (competence grammar)
Types:
1.Descriptive Grammar
2.Prescriptive Grammar

4. Grammaticality - the conformity of a sentence or
part of a sentence to the rules defined by a particular
grammar of the language.
~ Crystal, 1992
Grammaticality - the conformity of a sentence or
part of a sentence to the rules defined by a particular
grammar of the language.
~ Crystal, 1992

5. Grammar is a
problematic concept!
Grammar is a
problematic concept!

7. LIMITATIONS AFFECTING EXPERT
JUDGMENTS
COMPETENCECOMPETENCE
PERFORMAN
CE
PERFORMAN
CE

8. Grammar and Discourse
• Discourse – any naturally occurring stretch of
language occurring in context. (Carter, 1993)
GRAMMAR DISCOURSE

9. Dimensions of Grammar
• Form (Syntax)
• Meaning (Semantics)
• Use (Pragmatics)
• Grammar = the study of how syntax,
semantics and pragmatics work together to
enable individuals to communicate through
language.

11. Vocabulary
• It is more than lists of target language words.
• It is interrelated with grammar.
– The grammaticality of vocabulary manifests itself
in word morphology.

12. How important is vocabulary?
• Traditional Perspective: 2nd
to
grammar
– Master basic sentence structures
first before vocabulary
• Paradigm Shift: fundamentally
important aspect of language
development
– If one has extensive vocabulary,
it is possible to obtain meaning
from spoken & written texts…

13. The ability to learn new vocabulary
appears to get easier when one is
older. ~ Rivers, 1983
The ability to learn new vocabulary
appears to get easier when one is
older. ~ Rivers, 1983

14. Concordancing
• The development of computerized data bases has
facilitated a great deal of fascinating vocabulary
research.
• Concordancing program enables researcher to
explore the contexts in which particular words and
phrases occur, and the other words with which they
co-occur. It also enables them to identify the
functions performed by particular words.
– Time, people, way = most common nouns in English

15. Pronunciation
• Age
– Learners who begin studying another language
after the onset of puberty rarely, if ever, achieve
native-like levels of fluency.
• The Critical Period
– It is a biologically determined period of life when
language can be acquired more easily and beyond
which time language is increasingly difficult to
acquire. (Brown, 1987)

16. • Segmental Phonology
– Individual sounds of language
• Suprasegmental Phonology
– Stress, rhythm, intonation patterns in the
language