ELng 109 Lesson 1: Grammar Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is grammaticalization primarily concerned with?

The transformation of nouns and verbs into grammatical markers (correct)

The generation of new sounds in spoken language

The creation of content words from function words

The evolution of slang in modern language

Which of the following is an example of phonetic erosion?

Using 'will' as 'wanna'

Referring to 'going to' as 'gonna'

Saying 'they will' as 'they'll'

All of the above (correct)

What is the primary goal of positive feedback in a classroom?

To ensure students repeat their mistakes

To encourage and affirm students' successful responses (correct)

To provide detailed evaluations of student performance

To correct students' grammar errors

Which strategy is an example of indirect feedback?

Repeating a student's incorrect phrase correctly Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of grammatical assessment in language teaching?

To identify individual strengths and weaknesses in language use Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'grammar' originate from?

The Greek term meaning 'art of letters' Signup and view all the answers

Which definition of grammar is described as a set of prescriptions and proscriptions?

Prescriptive grammar Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of grammar focuses on how language is actually used by speakers?

Descriptive grammar Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of grammar is defined by Chomsky as the tacit knowledge of native speakers?

Grammatical competence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of grammar listed?

Structural grammar Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of descriptive grammar?

To describe language as it is used Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher contributed to the early theory of grammar as part of rhetoric?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

How does pedagogical grammar primarily differ from reference grammar?

It is aimed at instructional purposes for teachers Signup and view all the answers

What does a prescriptivist view of language emphasize?

A clear distinction between good and bad grammar Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of descriptive grammar?

It reflects how language is naturally used by speakers Signup and view all the answers

What argument did Larsen-Freeman make regarding grammar?

Grammar is a skill that can be actively developed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences would be deemed grammatically incorrect in a prescriptivist framework?

"Me and him are friends." Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Bacus et al. emphasize about grammar?

It integrates meaning, form, and use in context Signup and view all the answers

According to the concept of grammaticalization, which process is involved?

Developing grammar as language evolves over time Signup and view all the answers

In the context of language teaching, what aspect should future English teachers focus on?

Balancing form, meaning, and use in grammar Signup and view all the answers

What term did Larsen-Freeman use to describe the ability to use grammar effectively?

Grammaring Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Grammar and Grammaring

Origin of "grammar" derives from the Greek term grammatikē technē, meaning "art of letters."
Aristotle defined grammar as the science of writing and reading; he and Plato contributed to the theory of parts of speech.
In Chomskyan tradition, grammar is about grammatical competence, the inherent knowledge native speakers have of their language.
Merriam-Webster characterizes grammar as the study of word classes, their inflections, and their roles in sentences.
Grammar can have multiple interpretations:
- Mental grammar (internal knowledge)
- Prescriptive grammar (rules for language use)
- Descriptive grammar (actual language usage)
- Linguistic grammar (framework of linguistic theories)
- Reference grammar (structures of a language)
- Pedagogical grammar (rules for instructional purposes)
- Teacher's grammar (detailed instructional rules for educators).

Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Grammar

Descriptive grammar observes and describes language as it is used by speakers, without judgments on correctness.
Examples like "Him and me, we are neighbors" illustrate how language can vary according to speaker norms.
Prescriptive grammar mandates how language should be used, emphasizing standard forms and correct structures.
A prescriptive stance deems constructions like "Him and me, we are neighbors" as incorrect due to grammatical rules.
Effective grammar teaching should incorporate form, meaning, and contextual usage to develop students’ grammatical awareness.
Grammar instruction should consider cultural and social variables influencing language production and understanding.
Grammar ability demands accuracy, meaningfulness, and appropriate usage.

Grammaring

Larsen-Freeman presents "grammaring" as a skill akin to listening, speaking, reading, and writing, emphasizing active and progressive grammar use.
Grammar is conceptualized beyond memorization; it is seen as a skill to be developed.

Grammaticalizing/Grammaticalization

Grammaticalization, introduced by Antoine Meillet, describes how words evolve from content (nouns and verbs) to grammatical markers (affixes, prepositions).
Functions of language also transform; words like "like" and "hopefully" shift from content to grammatical connector roles.
Phonetic reduction occurs during grammaticalization, exemplified by contractions such as "it'll" for "it will," "gonna" for "going to," and "wanna" for "want to."

Error Correction vs. Feedback

Positive feedback recognizes correct student responses, leading to further development.
Negative feedback (error correction) addresses and fixes student errors.
Indirect strategies for feedback include recasting and clarification requests, while direct strategies provide explicit corrections.

Spoken vs. Written Grammar

Differences exist in grammar use between spoken and written language, affecting instructional methods.

Grammatical Assessment

Grammar assessment is crucial for gauging student proficiency and identifying strengths and weaknesses.
It guides educators in determining future curriculum focus based on students' grammatical capabilities.

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Description

Dive into the fundamental terms and concepts related to grammar in this introductory lesson of ELng 109. Explore the historical origins of grammar and its significance in the study of language. Grasp the essential theoretical insights from notable philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, who contributed to the understanding of grammar and rhetoric.