Lesson 2: Why Should a Person Study Language?

Language in Daily Life

What to Expect?
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
1. identify significant reasons why a person needs to study language; and,
2. examine the use of language in daily life.

Pre-discussion
Through pairing, interview each other about the reasons for studying, learning, and
using language. Write your answers below.
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Lesson Outline
Language is used in a wide variety of human circumstances, probably every situation.
Suppose something permeates every aspect of human life and is so deep that people cannot
understand its impact. In that case, they will research it as one of the keys to understanding
much of human behavior. The study of language will not in itself solve all the world's
problems. It is valuable enough to make people aware that language problems exist, and
they are widespread and complex. Besides being of intellectual interest, the study of
language offers a unique vantage point of linguistic since cetacean.
At school, teachers and students are confronted with language problems the minute
they talk in the door. Some are obvious, "I cannot understand Shakespeare. I thought he
spoke English. Why is he so difficult?" Other problems are not so obvious: "What is the
difference between who and whom? Doesn't one make me sound British? Why do I have to
say 'you and I' instead of 'me and you?" Some problems such as subtle sexism found in
some textbooks may be beyond our everyday psychological threshold. Problems of ethnicity
and community identity can be seen in such controversial issues as bilingual education or the
teaching of Ebonics.
Gallagher-Brett (2004) stresses the reasons why one should learn a language. These
include (a) citizenship; (b) communication; (c) economic, social and political dimension; (d)
democracy; (e) diversity; (f) employability; (g) environmental sustainability; (h) equal
opportunities; (i) globalization; (j) identity; (k) intercultural competence; (l) international
dimension, foreign policy etc.; m) key skills; (n) language awareness; (o) mobility/travel; (p)
multilingualism; (q) personal and social development of the individual; and, (r) values.

Summary
Language is a man's potent tool. It is used in every dimension of life. Its role is
irreplaceable, and its functions provide preservation of life. Therefore, no language, no
human activity will take place. It is an essential tool to survive.
Language is involved in a wide variety of human situations, perhaps every situation. If
something permeates every aspect of human life and is so complex that we cannot fathom its
influence, we should study it. The scientific study of language is one of the keys to
understanding much of human behavior.

Assessment/Enrichment
1. Pick at least two (2) reasons for studying a language. Elaborate comprehensively (20
points).
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2. Rank the languages that you use in your daily. It must be according to frequency and
importance. Discuss clearly (20 points).
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References
Gallagher-Brett, A. (2004). Seven hundred reasons for studying languages. University of
Southampton. https://www.llas.ac.uk/sites/default/files/nodes/6063/700_reasons.pdf

Jourdan, C., & Tuite, K. (Eds.). (2006). Language, culture, and society: Key topics in
linguistic anthropology (Vol. 23). Cambridge University Press.
http://196.189.45.87/bitstream/123456789/29011/1/18%20pdf.pdf

Salzmann, Z., Stanlaw, J., & Adachi, N. (2014). Language, culture, and society: An
introduction to linguistic anthropology. Westview Press.
https://dspace.ttu.edu.vn/bitstream/handle/123456789/3457/Language%20culture
%20and%20society.pdf?sequence=1

Stanlaw, J., Adachi, N. & Salzmann, Z. (2017). Language, culture, and society: An
introduction to linguistic anthropology. New York: Routledge. https://b-
ok.asia/s/language%20culture%20society