Semantics
"Semantics is the study of meaning in language." (Curzan and Adams, 2012, p. 204)
Learning a word involves much more than understanding the definition. Truly learning a word involves understanding how to use that word appropriately in spoken and written language.
Language changes over time and can be generalized or specified.
Meaning can be broken down into two categories: referential and connotative. The referential meaning is the literal meaning. The connotative meaning is derived from experience, intention, auditor, reaction, context, and shared cultural understanding.
Words derive their meaning partly according to their history. Studying the origins of words can help students' attain greater understanding of their meaning.
There is an important distinction between conversational English and academic English. It takes longer for an English language learner to master academic English than to attain conversational English.
Language and thought are related and there are various theories that govern this truth. They include Objectivism and Linguistic Relativity. Objectivism: This theory believes that there is a a reality that is accessible bypassing language, and language describes that world. Linguistic Relativity: This theory believes that difference in language create difference in thought. (Curzan and Adams, 2012)
Social reality can be affected by linguistic change. Language has the power to affect social attitudes.
Learning a word involves much more than understanding the definition. Truly learning a word involves understanding how to use that word appropriately in spoken and written language.
Language changes over time and can be generalized or specified.
Meaning can be broken down into two categories: referential and connotative. The referential meaning is the literal meaning. The connotative meaning is derived from experience, intention, auditor, reaction, context, and shared cultural understanding.
Words derive their meaning partly according to their history. Studying the origins of words can help students' attain greater understanding of their meaning.
There is an important distinction between conversational English and academic English. It takes longer for an English language learner to master academic English than to attain conversational English.
Language and thought are related and there are various theories that govern this truth. They include Objectivism and Linguistic Relativity. Objectivism: This theory believes that there is a a reality that is accessible bypassing language, and language describes that world. Linguistic Relativity: This theory believes that difference in language create difference in thought. (Curzan and Adams, 2012)
Social reality can be affected by linguistic change. Language has the power to affect social attitudes.
Terms to know:
- BICS - basic interpersonal communication skills
- CALP - cognitive academic language proficiency
- Lexical Field - A group of words that somehow belong together
- Idiom - an expression whose meaning cannot be derived directly from the string of words that make up the expression. Meaning is understood through helps shared cultural context.
- Antonymy - words that mean the opposite of each other
- Homonymy - words that have a very different meaning but share a word form
- Homophones - words that share the same pronunciation
- Homographs - Words that share the same form
- Metaphor - Figurative language in which a word or phrase that designates one thing is applied to another, as a form of comparison.
- Conceptual Metaphor - helps describe abstract concepts by relating them to known, more concrete objects and experiences. Examples include (MORE IS UP, ARGUMENT IS WAR, and TIME IS MONEY).
- Euphemism - a word or phrase meant to sound better than the literal alternative (Examples: pass away, kick the bucket - in place of "die")
- Priming - helps speed language processing by activating the webs of words surrounding a particular word. It helps prepare our mind for what may be coming next.
Implications for Teachers of ELLs
|