Doing things with language

Doing things with language have the contents Introduction to: Focus, Functions of language, Language and Communication, Implications for the classroom, Language is more than communication, Making sense of our environment, Language as social interaction, Language and social values, Language to exchange information, Learning language functions, Language for structuring reality.
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Doing things with languagePresented by : Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga Vu Thi Hoai Van My Phuong, Chuong,ThanhI. FocusII.Functions of language 1. Language is more than communication 2. Making sense of our environment 3. Language as social interaction 4. Language and social values 5. Language to exchange information 6. Learning language functions 7. Language for structuring realityI. FocusIII.Language and Communication 1. What is communication? 2. Factors influencing communication 3. Improving our communication skillsIV. Implications for the classroomIn this chapter we focus on understanding that:language is more than communicationLanguage serves a number of functions in our societyLanguage is the means by which we make and share meaning withourselves and with othersWe take up and allocate social roles through languagesWe use language to establish group identityA major function of language is to structure reality, to make sense of ourworldWe all possess different realities/ worldsCommunication is a transactive process and effective communication isvery important for teaching Language is more than communication. Ex. Theants are communicating with each other by stoppingto touch antennae Language is more than communicationEx 2:Mary: It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?John : Sure is We use language and construct a list of the different things that we see being done by language users as they use language in their daily lives. Language is more than communication• The use of language when we speak or write involve action that can be seen. Our action are less obvious when we read or listen to someone else speaking.• Meaning and shared meaning are at the heart of what we do with language• One distinction that can be drawn is the one between language as action- language directed to others- and language as reflection, as thinking Making sense of our environmentPlease find herewith the following utterances of three boys:• Simon spoke first “Like candles. Candle bushes. Candle buds”• Ralph said “You couldn’t fight them, they just look like candles”• Jack said contemptuously “Green candles, we can’t eat them” How are the boys using language? for what functions is language being used? Making sense of our environmentLanguage is used for a range of purposes. Controlordirect behaviourPromotesocial interaction Explainorinstruct LANGUAGE …etc. Question Praiseand encourage Language as social interaction• Language gives us ways of addressing each other.Ex: parents are called by their first name. However, sometimes this is regarded as outright impertinenceTherefore, we create a range of titles to identify or address others whose rank of authority needs to be acknowledged• Differences in the social position of women by providing “Mister” as the one respectful title for adult malesMiss unmarried womanMrs married womanFinally, Ms was proposed as a general term of respectful address for all women regardless of their marital status Language as social interaction• Distinguish the difference between two French person pronounsex: Où est-ce que tu vas? Or Où est-ce que vous allez?Tu and Vous number, tu singular formVous the plural formMoreover, the two words serve another purpose by indicating the difference in status and intimacy between the speaker and the listener.Vous => respectful while tu => intimate• The another example of the way we use language to negotiate social interactionEx: How are you ? Hi Good morning“Good morning” can be said to someone regardless of whether it is in fact a good morning. “How are you?” doesn’t seem to be a question at all Language and social values• Gossip is the means by which people keep in touch with the values of their associates and community• When we participate in such a discussion we confirm or modify our own values and we place them into a context of other people’s values• We gossip to discover what others think and to find ways of positioning our own thinking on the same issues• To some extent, jokes and stories do the same thing as gossip• Telling and listening to jokes is not just an amusing way of passing time : it is an important way by which groups can maintain a shared set of valuesStories the sets of values => a group culture• Changes in literary taste are not merely changes in fashion but are born reflections of and shapes of the values and attitudes of the culture from which they grow. Language to exchange information Ask for information from each other Exchangeinformation Assert propositions Deny propositions Cooperative Principle by Grice (1975) Quantity Relation Quality MannerProvide as much Be relevant Try to say what - Be clearinformation as the is true - Be briefexchange requires - Be orderlyDon’t provide - Don’t say what - Avoid obscuritymore information you believe to be - Avoid ambiguitythan the exchange falserequires - Don’t say things you don’t have supporting evidence for Language to exchange ...