Scribd
Upload
96 views

Key Concepts of Language Learning

1) Language acquisition involves unconsciously learning one's native language through interaction, while language learning is a conscious process involving formal instruction. 2) Theorists like de Saussure and Chomsky distinguish between underlying linguistic knowledge (competence/langue) and actual language use (performance/parole), with the former being the true object of study. 3) According to Chomsky, competence refers to a speaker's innate linguistic system, while performance represents observable speech which can differ from competence due to external factors like memory limitations.

Uploaded by

Mhae Marquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
96 views

Key Concepts of Language Learning

1) Language acquisition involves unconsciously learning one's native language through interaction, while language learning is a conscious process involving formal instruction. 2) Theorists like de Saussure and Chomsky distinguish between underlying linguistic knowledge (competence/langue) and actual language use (performance/parole), with the former being the true object of study. 3) According to Chomsky, competence refers to a speaker's innate linguistic system, while performance represents observable speech which can differ from competence due to external factors like memory limitations.

Uploaded by

Mhae Marquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

Key Concepts in Language

Learning
Acquisition vs Learning
Language Acquisition

• Typically involves some type of unconscious,


effortless assimilation of linguistic knowledge
• More often applied to a child’s mastery of a first
or native language
• Requires meaningful interaction in the target
language
• Natural communication – Speakers are
concentrated not in the form of their utterances,
but in the communicative act
Language Learning
• A product of formal instruction
• Comprised of conscious process which results in conscious
knowledge “about” the language
• Held to involve both explicit and implicit psychological
processes
• Explicit Learning
The learner is consciously aware that he/she has modified his/her
knowledge base
• Implicit Learning
There will be a change in the learner’s knowledge base but this will be
outside his/her conscious introspection
“
“Learning” is less important than
“acquisition”.

-Stephen Krashen
”
Language Performance VS Competence
Ferdinand de Saussure (1857 – 1913)

• A Swiss linguist whose ideas on the


structure in language laid the
foundation of 20th Century
linguistics
• Is almost famous for laying the
foundations of Semiology (later on
called Semiotics) or the study of
“signs”
• Concept of “la langue” and
“parole”
Noam Chomsky (1928 – Present)

• American linguist regarded


as “father of modern
linguistics”
• Developed the theory on
“transformational
generative grammar”
• Proponent of the idea of
“universal grammar”
• “Performance” and
“Competence”
de Saussure's Theory

• La Langue
• Includes a large number of elements whereby meaning is created by the
arrangements between the elements and their consequent relationships
• While learning a language, it is necessary to master the system of grammar,
spelling, syntax and punctuation (elements of langue)
• Langue precedes and makes speech possible
• Parole
• Actual utterances
• External manifestation of langue
• Usage of the system, but not the system
de Saussure's Theory

• Differentiates between language (la langue) and how it is used


(parole), enabling separate studies to be conducted
• de Saussure was more interested in la langue than parole
• Mainly because it is through la langue that meaning could be created, hence
the development of Semiology
Chomsky’s View

• Also distinguished the underlying knowledge of language from the


way language is used in practice
• Language performance may be affected by such things as
attention, stamina and memory
• A theory of language must therefore first be borne out of a theory
of competence.
Chomsky’s View

• Competence
• A person’s underlying (subconscious) linguistic ability to create and
understand sentences, including sentences they have never heard before
• Acquaintance with a set of grammatical rules and is different from the
actual linguistic devices
• Includes components such as phonology, phonetics, syntax, semantics and
morphology
• Enables native speakers to recognize ambiguous sentences or accept even
apparently meaningless sentences as syntactically correct
Chomsky’s View

• Performance
• Real-world linguistic output
• May accurately reflect competence, but may also include speech errors
• May be flawed because of memory limitations, distractions, shifts of
attention and interest, and errors or other psychological factors
• Represents only a small sample of possible utterances
Performance Error

• The performance of a speaker may not be fault free, even though


his competence is perfect.
Distinction Between
Competence and Performance
Chomsky VS de Saussure

• Competence is entirely psychological and mental in nature.


Performance refers to an actual event.
• Chomsky’s “performance” and de Saussure’s “parole” are used
interchangeably
• Langue is a static system of signs
• Competence is a dynamic concept
• Chomsky’s take is more psychological, while de Saussure’s is more
linguistic

You might also like