Language

ACQUISITION
and Learning
Adrian V. Protacio, PhD
Language
Acquisition
• Neuro-psychological
process (Maslo, 2017)
• Subconscious process
similar to that by which
children acquire their first
language (Kramina, 2000)
• Integral part of the unity of
all languages (Robbins, 2007)
Language Acquisition: Natural Assimilation
(Schutz, 2018)
• Process of natural, intuitive, subconscious assimilation, the result
of interaction in real situations of human coexistence = children
participate as ACTIVE SUBJECTS.
• PROCESS OF ASSIMILATION of L1
• Produces practical-functional skills in spoken language
• Phonetic characteristics of language
• Structure and vocabulary (oral understanding)
• Communicate creatively
• Identification of cultural values
Language Learning: Formal Study
(Schutz, 2018)
• linked to the traditional approach to language
teaching
• Grammatical structure, language rules (Parts
are dissected and analyzed)
• Requires intellectual effort and deductive-logical
capacity
• Progressive and cumulative process
 Language Acquisition and Learning:
The Summary of Differences
LEARNING ACQUISITION
Artificial - Natural
Technical - Personal
Priority on the written language - Priority on the spoken language
Theory (Language analysis) - Practice (Language in use)
Formal instruction - Meaningful interaction
Deductive teaching (Rule driven, top down) - Inductive coaching (rule discovery; bottom up)
Conscious process - Subconscious process
Preset syllabus - Learner-centered activities with room for improvisation
Translation; use of L1 included - No translation; No L1
Activities ABOUT the language - Activities IN the language
Focus on Form - Focus on communication
Produces knowledge - Produces an ability
NINE IDEAS Adrian V. Protacio, PhD
ABOUT LANGUAGE
• Children learn their native
language swiftly, efficiently, and
largely without instruction.
• Children learn = language of
their parents, sibling, friends
and other sources and
examples
• Speakers = testing device for
their own emerging ideas about
the language
• Imitation; hypothesis-testing
• ARBITRARY
• The existence of African languages
employing musical tones or clicks
reminds us that the forty phonemes
used in English represent an arbitrary
selection from hundreds of available
sounds.
• Grammar, too, is arbitrary.
• We have a rule in English which
requires most adjectives to appear
before the noun which they modify
(the blue chair).
• In French, the syntax is reversed (la
chaise bleue), and in some
languages, like Latin, either order is
allowed.
• All languages have three major
components: a sound system, a
vocabulary, and a system of grammar.
• human speaker makes meaning by
manipulating sounds, words.
internalized system of rules
• GRAMMAR is a system of rules used
to arrange words into a meaningful
sentences
• GRAMMAR is the whole system of
rules that makes up a language
(arrangement, markings of elements in
sentences, lexical, phonological,
syntactic patterns that a language
uses.
• Everyone speaks a dialect.
• Variety of a specific
language
• It has certain sets of lexical
phonological and
grammatical rules.
• GEOGRAPHICAL: Principles
of isolation = developing
mutually intelligible
languages
• Standard language =
LINGUA FRANCA
• Speakers of all languages employ a
range of styles and a set subdialects
or jargons.
• Communicates with grumble and
fragments of private code: = uuh, you
gonna, yeah, lol
• Formal and informal styles of speech
• Adjust our LANGUAGE according to
the social contexts.
• Speakers of all languages employ a range of
styles and a set subdialects or jargons.

• REGISTER or STYLE of language

according to Martin Joos:
• INTIMATE: close personal relationship,
intricate, fragmentary, implicit
• CONSULTATIVE: produces cooperation
• CASUAL: ellipsis and slang, friends and
insiders
• FORMAL: speeches, sermons, TV
newscast
• FROZEN: in print
• Speakers of all languages employ a range
of styles and a set subdialects or jargons.

• 7 main USES, PURPOSES, FUNCTIONS

FOR TALKING (MAK Halliday)
• INSTRUMENTAL: get things done
• REGULATORY: control actions of
others
• INTERACTIONAL: groups, relationship
with others
• PERSONAL: express what you feel
• HEURISTIC: learn, ask questions,
guessing
• IMAGINATIVE: language to create a
world
• REPRESENTATION: express
propositions, give information, or
communicate subject matter.
• Language change is normal
• Pronunciation is a product of
centuries of gradual sound
changes
• Dreamt and learnt = dreamed
and learned
• Languages are intimately
related to the society and
individuals who use them
• Human language is shaped by,
and changes to meet the needs
of its speakers
• ALL LANGUAGES ARE EQUAL.
• Human languages and
concept systems which
they embody are efficient in
their native speech
communities.
• Value judgments about different
languages are matters of taste.
• Attitude on people’s language
• French is sweet music of love
• German is harsh, martial,
overbearing
• Spanish of Latin Americans are
uneducated
• Scandinavian tongues have
silly rhythm
• British English is refined and
intelligent
• Writing is a derivative of speech.
• Writing is based on oral language
• LITERATURE
Your attention is appreciated!