Basic Linguistics for TESOL
by Peggy Marcy, professor in the teacher education
program at California State University in
San Bernardino, CA.
OK.
Before I get started, I want to explain that
there are lots of good and bad videos on YouTube
already about linguistics, so why do you need
my attempt?
Well, I just didn't see a very generic and
concise summary from the standpoint of the
TESOL professional.
But by no means am I a linguistic expert.
Some YouTube channels you may want to follow
up with are NativLang and LinguisticsMarburg.
I have drawn information from both sources.
In fact, I really like the introduction that
NativLang gives to the various subcategories
of linguistics; therefore, I have chosen to
use his points as my table of contents.
Linguistics is the study of language.
It is a scientific field of study.
I personally am more interested in applied
linguistics, in other words, how do the various
aspects of linguistics contribute to my every
day teaching?
The main branch of linguistics is Theoretical
Linguistics, usually just referred to as "Linguistics."
This field is broken down into various subcategories.
Linguists look at the Sounds of a language
and how they are formed, Structures of a language,
and Meanings of a language.
Let's look at each subcategory briefly.
Phonology.
Phonology is not equal to pronunciation because
phonology studies the various sounds available
in any language, how they are made, and how
they can be combined; it is more theoretical
than pronunciation.
Pronunciation is the actual act of making
the sound; the application of phonology.
Morphology.
This is the study of how words are built in
a language.
To do that, they have to take a word apart
into the smallest sections of meaning that
they can.
These are referred to as "morphemes."
For example, "walk" is a morpheme.
The endings of "-s" and "-ed" are morphemes
also.
Morphology tells me that I can combine these
to create "walks" and "walked" but NOT to
make "walkeds."
The average ESL/EFL instructor deals with
this regularly under the category of "grammar"
in the classroom.
Syntax.
Syntax is also part of the structure of the
language, so it is also covered in the classroom
under the common title of "grammar."
Specifically, syntax looks at how sentences
are created.
What combination of words is allowed and what
is not.
Then, textbooks are written describing these
rules and become the "grammar" of the language.
Syntax only cares whether the correct form
of a sentence is followed and 
not about the meaning.
Text messaging would be an example of a communication
style that cares mostly about meaning and
only a little about form.
An effective teacher can diagnose a student's
writing or speech and "prescribe" grammar
practice that will fix mistakes.
But grammar textbooks by themselves are not
prescriptive; they are descriptive.
It takes the teacher to make them prescriptive.
Lexicology.
Lexicology studies the words that are available
in a language.
Dictionaries attempt to be written lexicons
for an entire language, but teachers usually
are more focused on what words are in their
students' individual lexicons -- stored in
their brains.
This includes idioms, slang and other common
sayings.
For example, when we teach the word "rain,"
do we ever help students understand the related
words of mist, sprinkle and shower?
The famous research here pertains to how many
words the Eskimos have for snow.
At one time, it was said that there were around
100 words for snow.
Then, linguists tore that research apart and
said that Boas, the original anthropologist,
was incorrectly combining his morphemes.
So, it became known as a hoax or urban myth.
However, in 2013, the Washington Post reported
on research definitively proving there are
over 50 words for snow among the Inuit in
Canada.
The point is that a language's lexicon is
determined by their surroundings and other
cultural values.
Semantics.
Semantics focuses on the meaning of language.
Semantics looks specifically at the meanings
of words and how those meanings change based
upon surrounding words.
Many ESL/EFL instructors focus on explaining
to learners the "denotative" meaning of vocabulary.
Denotative is the definition written in the
dictionary.
But, it is just as important to teach "connotative"
meanings as well.
Connotative refers to how makes you "feel."
How is the word interpreted?
Semantics also looks at words with multiple
definitions and figurative language.
Finally, Pragmatics.
Basically, pragmatics considers every aspect
of communication.
It includes non-verbal communication, as well
as the physical location, such as the difference
between language in a classroom and language
at a park.
It also considers whether a person culturally
likes to stand close to the listener or farther
away.
It pays attention to the relationship between
the speaker and listener.
Have they just met or do they share a lot
of common experiences?
Is one older than the other?
Does one have more authority than the other?
When you have a student say they understood
every word in the sentence, but they still
don't understand what you mean it is because
they can't sort out the significant context
in order to pragmatically comprehend.
One of the benefits of Communicative Language
Teaching is that it places a great significance
upon pragmatic competence.
In review, this video has looked at key subcategories
of linguistics.
Phonology studies how sounds are made to form
words and meaning.
Morphology studies how words are put together.
Syntax describes rules for how sentences can
be put together.
Lexicology studies what types of words are
available in a language and what are the differences
between seemingly related words.
Semantics focuses on the coded meaning of
words, phrases and sentences and how they
are combined.
Pragmatics cares most about understanding
and communication, so it includes all relevant
contextual aspects between speaker and listener.
