RAFAEL BRIAN D.

AGRAVIADOR MAEED - I

THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE

Language is a vital tool and it is a mean of communicating thoughts and ideas, it also

forges friendships, cultural ties, and economic relationships. Throughout history, many

have reflected on the importance of language. For instance, the scholar Benjamin Whorf

has noted that language shapes thoughts and emotions, determining one’s perception

of reality. John Stuart Mill said that "Language is the light of the mind." Lionel Groulx, a

Quebec historian, put it this way: "Chacun retient toutefois que la suprême révélation du

génie national, la clef magique qui donne accès aux plus hautes richesses de la culture,

c’est la langue."

For the linguist Edward Sapir, language is not only a vehicle for the expression of

thoughts, perceptions, sentiments, and values characteristic of a community; it also

represents a fundamental expression of social identity. Sapir said: "the mere fact of a

common speech serves as a peculiar potent symbol of the social solidarity of those who

speak the language." In short, language retention helps maintain feelings of cultural

kinship.

Nelson Mandela is famous for the quote "If you talk to man in a language he

understands it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language it goes to his heart" for

a good reason. Since being in Senegal I have developed a new understanding and

passion for language learning. Not only does it allow you to connect with others but it

challenges you to get out of your comfort zone and interact in a tongue you may not yet

be comfortable in.

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Language impacts the daily lives of members of any race, creed, and region of the

world. Language helps express our feelings, desires, and queries to the world around

us. Words, gestures and tone are utilized in union to portray a broad spectrum of

emotion. The unique and diverse methods human beings can use to communicate

through written and spoken language is a large part of what allows to harness our

innate ability to form lasting bonds with one another; separating mankind from the rest

of the animal kingdom.

The importance of communication is often overlooked. Despite our great prowess in

communication, misunderstandings and mistranslations are commonplace. It is arrogant

to believe that one can travel the world and expect all of mankind to understand his or

her native tongue. In order to travel the world, whether for business or pleasure, a

desire and willingness to adapt to new cultures and methods is necessary. Adaptability,

of course, includes the ability to communicate with new people in various dialects. Being

unable to communicate in a country is akin to living with a serious impairment; it is very

difficult and near impossible, to adapt and get along with new people if there is no way

to communicate with one another.

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DEFINITION AND NATURE OF LANGUAGE

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the

use of words in a structured and conventional way. Language is a system of words or

signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other. Language is a

system of communication, a medium for thought, and a social interaction.

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE?

1. Language is a combination of sounds.

2. Words have meanings.

a. MEANINGS ARE IN PEOPLE NOT IN WORDS. Because of this, you

must not only consider your interpretation of the word, but also the

meaning the communicator is trying to get through

b. Did you know that “set” is the word with the most number of meanings?

Noun: 58 Verb: 126 Adjective: 10

3. Language follows a grammatical structure.

4. Language is based on aural and oral system.

5. Language can die and be extinct.

a. Call for elegance Erosion of old customs  Changing societal needs

SOME REASONS FOR THE GROWTH AND DECLINE OF LANGUAGE:

b. An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use

as its speakers die out or shift to speaking another language. Language

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loss occurs when the language has no more native speakers, and

becomes a "dead language".

c. An extinct language is a language that no longer has any speakers, or that

is no longer in current use.

d. Dead languages are still known and used in special contexts in written

form.

e. A dead language may remain in use for scientific, legal, or ecclesiastical

functions. Old Church Slavonic, Classical Armenian, Avestan, Coptic,

Biblical Hebrew, New Testament Greek, Ge'ez, Ardhamagadhi, Pali,

Sanskrit and Latin are among the many dead languages used as sacred

languages.

f. TRIVIA Ethnologue records 7,358 living languages known. But on 2015-

05-20, Ethnologue reported only 7,102 known living languages.

6. Language can be diverse.

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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Language is any formal system of gestures, signs, sounds, and symbols used or

conceived as a means of communicating thought. As mentioned above, there are over

six thousand language schemes currently in use around the world. The language

spoken by the greatest number of people on the planet is Mandarin; other widely

spoken languages are English, Spanish, and Arabic.Lewis, M. P.

(2009). Ethnologue (16th ed.). Language is ultimately important because it is the

primary means through which humans have the ability to communicate and interact with

one another. Some linguists go so far as to suggest that the acquisition of language

skills is the primary advancement that enabled our prehistoric ancestors to flourish and

succeed over other hominid species.Mayell, H. (2003, February). When did "modern"

behavior emerge in humans? National Geographic News.

In today’s world, effective use of language helps us in our interpersonal relationships at

home and at work. Using language effectively also will improve your ability to be an

effective public speaker. Because language is an important aspect of public speaking

that many students don’t spend enough time developing, we encourage you to take

advantage of this chapter.

One of the first components necessary for understanding language is to understand

how we assign meaning to words. Words consist of sounds (oral) and shapes (written)

that have agreed-upon meanings based in concepts, ideas, and memories. When we

write the word “blue,” we may be referring to a portion of the visual spectrum dominated

by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nanometers. You could also say that

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the color in question is an equal mixture of both red and green light. While both of these

are technically correct ways to interpret the word “blue,” we’re pretty sure that neither of

these definitions is how you thought about the word. When hearing the word “blue,” you

may have thought of your favorite color, the color of the sky on a spring day, or the color

of a really ugly car you saw in the parking lot. When people think about language, there

are two different types of meanings that people must be aware of: denotative and

connotative.

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INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE LANGUAGE ARTS

A number of authorities have pointed out the interrelationships that exist among the

language arts: oral, and written communication, reading, spelling, and handwriting (5,

28, 45, 48, 59). Writing is ordinarily the last of the common forms of language

communication to develop, the skill that is learned later than oral comprehension,

speech, or even reading. Writing depends upon oral language and comprehension, it is

associated with skill in reading, and it is related to steady growth in control of the tools

of spelling and handwriting, Children learn to write in part Loin reading correctly written

context wmen cvntax, punctuation, diction, and correct spelling ussell found high

intercorreiations among the language skills (48). He advocated considering the teaching

of spelling as a phase of general language achievement. Townsend also found

substantial correlations between spelling ability and reading, vocabulary and academic

aptitude. In view of the relatedness that exists among these different phases of

languages expression, more integration should be achieved in language instruction in

school experiences. Written English, oral expression, reading, spelling, and handwriting

can all be taught more meaningfully and economically through capitalizing on the

interrelationships that exist among these skills. For bilingual children and slow learners

the urgency is particularly great to bind all these skills together in a unified whole

through common vocabulary and context.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ARTS TEACHER

Characteristic 1: Prepared

The most effective teachers come to class each day ready to teach.

1. It is easy to learn in their classes because they are ready for the day.

2. They don’t waste instructional time. They start class on time. They teach for

the entire class period.

3. Time flies in their classes because students are engaged in learning—i.e., not

bored, less likely to fall asleep.

Characteristic 2:

Positive The most effective teachers have optimistic attitudes about teaching and about

students. They

1. See the glass as half full (look on the positive side of every situation)

2. Make themselves available to students

3. Communicate with students about their progress

4. Give praise and recognition

5. Have strategies to help students act positively toward one another

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Characteristic 3: Hold High Expectations

The most effective teachers set no limits on students and believe everyone can be

successful.

They:

1. Hold the highest standards

2. Consistently challenge their students to do their best

3. Build students’ confidence and teach them to believe in themselves

Characteristic 4: Creative

The most effective teachers are resourceful and inventive in how they teach their

classes.

They:

1. Kiss a pig if the class reaches its academic goals

2. Wear a clown suit

3. Agree to participate in the school talent show

4. Use technology effectively in the classroom

Characteristic 5: Fair

The most effective teachers handle students and grading fairly.

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They:

1. Allow all students equal opportunities and privileges

2. Provide clear requirements for the class

3. Recognize that “fair” doesn’t necessarily mean treating everyone the same but

means giving every student an opportunity to succeed

4. Understand that not all students learn in the same way and at the same rate

Characteristic 6: Display a Personal Touch

The most effective teachers are approachable.

They:

1. Connect with students personally

2. Share personal experiences with their classes

3. Take personal interest in students and find out as much as possible about

them

4. Visit the students’ world (sit with them in the cafeteria; attend sporting events,

plays, and other events outside normal school hours)

Characteristic 7: Cultivate a Sense of Belonging

The most effective teachers have a way of making students feel welcome and

comfortable in their classrooms.

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1. Students repeatedly mentioned that they felt as though they belonged in

classrooms taught by effective teachers.

2. The students knew they had a good teacher who loved teaching and preferred

it to other occupations.

Characteristic 8: Compassionate

The most effective teachers are concerned about students’ personal problems and can

relate to them and their problems. Numerous stories established how the sensitivity and

compassion of caring teachers affected them in profound and lasting ways.

Characteristic 9: Have a Sense of Humor

The most effective teachers do not take everything seriously and make learning fun.

They:

1. Use humor to break the ice in difficult situations

2. Bring humor into the everyday classroom 3. Laugh with the class (but not at

the expense of any particular student)

Characteristic 10: Respect Students

The most effective teachers do not deliberately embarrass students. Teachers who give

the highest respect, get the highest respect.

They:

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1. Respect students’ privacy when returning test papers

2. Speak to students in private concerning grades or conduct

3. Show sensitivity to feelings and consistently avoid situations that

unnecessarily embarrass students

Characteristic 11: Forgiving

The most effective teachers do not hold grudges.

They:

1. Forgive students for inappropriate behavior

2. Habitually start each day with a clean slate

3. Understand that a forgiving attitude is essential to reaching difficult students

4. Understand that disruptive or antisocial behavior can quickly turn a teacher

against a student, but that refusing to give up on difficult students can produce success

Characteristic 12: Admit Mistakes

The most effective teachers are quick to admit being wrong.

They:

1. Apologize to mistakenly accused students

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2. Make adjustments when students point out errors in grading or test material

that has not been assigned

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