Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. We know that language is used to express meanings which can be understood by others. Meanings exist in our minds and we can express what is in our minds through the spoken and written forms of language (as well as through gestures, action etc.). An understanding of semantics is essential to the study of language acquisition (how language users acquire a sense of meaning, as speakers and writers, listeners and readers) and of language change (how meanings alter over time).
It is important for understanding language in social contexts, as these are likely to affect meaning, and for understanding varieties of English and effects of style. It is thus one of the most fundamental concepts in linguistics.
Why semantics is important for ELLs?
Semantics is important because:
Semantics (word meaning) is the key to unlock understanding
In order for ELL to communicate and comprehend they must have
1) an understand of the meaning of words;
2) a bank of words from which to choose;
3) strategies to support them in word retrieval
Choosing the right words (or failure to) can have serious social and professional/academic implications
Semantics supports language learners in aspects of communicative competence:
Lexical competence is the linguistic term that refers to how language learners distinguish the difference between words in the same “family” (i.e. a seat = chair, stool, bench).
Discourse Competence (comprehending and constructing communication in written and oral form across genres)
Social and Pragmatic Aspects: (Interpreting and using language within a given social context ie formal or informal)
«Many words in English have more than one meaning. This results in confusion for many ELLs. For example, Ground, it could mean a solid surface, it is also used in the following examples: they covered a lot of ground in the meeting (dealt with a variety of topics), Stand one’s ground (be firm), On what ground do you… (cause or reason), parents sometimes ground their children, and finally it is the past tense of grind as in ground coffee.
«Language can be ambiguous sometimes which affects meaning and comprehension. When someone says : I saw the French history professor. One can wonder if the professor teaches French history or if he is from France.
Pragmatics
Another component of language is Pragmatics which has to do with language use. This area of language focuses on how language can be affected by context.
Pragmatics refers to the study of those factors which govern our choices of language - such as our social awareness, our culture and our sense of etiquette. How do we know how to address different people like professor or friend ? How do we know how to express gratitude for a gift or hospitality?
—Most speakers of a language know what to say depending on the situation and the person to whom they are speaking. One might say, “Pass the salt” to a close or a familiar person or “Will you please pass the salt” to someone who is not.
Since pragmatics is a systematic way of explaining language use in context, it seeks to explain aspects of meaning which cannot be found in the plain sense of words or structures, as explained by semantics. As a field of language study, pragmatics is,in my opinion, the most difficult element of linguistics for ELLs. Specially, they must learn two system of politeness.
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. We know that language is used to express meanings which can be understood by others. Meanings exist in our minds and we can express what is in our minds through the spoken and written forms of language (as well as through gestures, action etc.). An understanding of semantics is essential to the study of language acquisition (how language users acquire a sense of meaning, as speakers and writers, listeners and readers) and of language change (how meanings alter over time).
It is important for understanding language in social contexts, as these are likely to affect meaning, and for understanding varieties of English and effects of style. It is thus one of the most fundamental concepts in linguistics.
Why semantics is important for ELLs?
Semantics is important because:
Semantics (word meaning) is the key to unlock understanding
In order for ELL to communicate and comprehend they must have
1) an understand of the meaning of words;
2) a bank of words from which to choose;
3) strategies to support them in word retrieval
Choosing the right words (or failure to) can have serious social and professional/academic implications
Semantics supports language learners in aspects of communicative competence:
Lexical competence is the linguistic term that refers to how language learners distinguish the difference between words in the same “family” (i.e. a seat = chair, stool, bench).
Discourse Competence (comprehending and constructing communication in written and oral form across genres)
Social and Pragmatic Aspects: (Interpreting and using language within a given social context ie formal or informal)
«Many words in English have more than one meaning. This results in confusion for many ELLs. For example, Ground, it could mean a solid surface, it is also used in the following examples: they covered a lot of ground in the meeting (dealt with a variety of topics), Stand one’s ground (be firm), On what ground do you… (cause or reason), parents sometimes ground their children, and finally it is the past tense of grind as in ground coffee.
«Language can be ambiguous sometimes which affects meaning and comprehension. When someone says : I saw the French history professor. One can wonder if the professor teaches French history or if he is from France.
Pragmatics
Another component of language is Pragmatics which has to do with language use. This area of language focuses on how language can be affected by context.
Pragmatics refers to the study of those factors which govern our choices of language - such as our social awareness, our culture and our sense of etiquette. How do we know how to address different people like professor or friend ? How do we know how to express gratitude for a gift or hospitality?
—Most speakers of a language know what to say depending on the situation and the person to whom they are speaking. One might say, “Pass the salt” to a close or a familiar person or “Will you please pass the salt” to someone who is not.
Since pragmatics is a systematic way of explaining language use in context, it seeks to explain aspects of meaning which cannot be found in the plain sense of words or structures, as explained by semantics. As a field of language study, pragmatics is,in my opinion, the most difficult element of linguistics for ELLs. Specially, they must learn two system of politeness.
Examples of Pragmatics
Have you ever asked someone to put the kettle on and expected them to make you a cup of tea? This is pragmatics.
Have you ever asked someone to put the kettle on and expected them to make you a cup of tea? This is pragmatics.
Have you ever told someone you are cold and intended for them to close the window?
This is pragmatics.
Have you ever complimented your mom before asking for something you want?
This is pragmatics.
Even tone of voice can be pragmatics:
This is pragmatics.
Have you ever complimented your mom before asking for something you want?
This is pragmatics.
Even tone of voice can be pragmatics:
Pragmatics and ELLs:
Pragmatics, like most components of language, takes time to fully acquire. It takes knowledge of the language, the culture, the people, etc. before one can perform well in this area of language.
—The reason this area of language can be difficult is that, much of what we utter can be implied and/or indirect. We do not always speak in full sentences and organized thoughts. This results in choppy sentences and phrases that confuse ELLs.
--We need to encourage social interaction between ELLs and native speakers of English. When students have a good source (input) of the new language, they learn more about what is acceptable and what is not.
—This component of language usually takes longer to acquire.
The influence of the mother tongue on second language vocabulary:
These features make many English words hard to handle for speakers of other language.
Read more about the influence of the mother tongue:
What Is Easy and What Is Hard to Acquire in a Second Language?
Pragmatic Comprehension of High and Low Level Language Learners
Pragmatics, like most components of language, takes time to fully acquire. It takes knowledge of the language, the culture, the people, etc. before one can perform well in this area of language.
—The reason this area of language can be difficult is that, much of what we utter can be implied and/or indirect. We do not always speak in full sentences and organized thoughts. This results in choppy sentences and phrases that confuse ELLs.
--We need to encourage social interaction between ELLs and native speakers of English. When students have a good source (input) of the new language, they learn more about what is acceptable and what is not.
—This component of language usually takes longer to acquire.
The influence of the mother tongue on second language vocabulary:
These features make many English words hard to handle for speakers of other language.
Read more about the influence of the mother tongue:
What Is Easy and What Is Hard to Acquire in a Second Language?
Pragmatic Comprehension of High and Low Level Language Learners
What makes learning Language hard for English language learners?
pragmatics_ws_06-07.ppt | |
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