HOW LANGUAGE WORKS: AN INTRODUCTION

HOW LANGUAGE WORKS is packed with information about the workings and wonders of human language. The name of this new webpage comes from an extraordinary book, entitled How Language Works: How babies babble, words change meaning and languages live or die, by Dr. David Crystal (2005) a renowned British linguist, editor, broadcaster, lecturer, author and language lover, perhaps best known for his two language encyclopedias (2010, 2018). I am delighted and honoured to launch HOW LANGUAGE WORKS with Dr. Crystal’s endorsement and good wishes.

Information in HOW LANGUAGE WORKS comes from 4 sources:

• my lifelong interest in all things language;
• the many questions and comments from teachers, learners, families and university students;
• the media (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet), and
• language publications (books, journals and reports).

Highlights of HOW LANGUAGE WORKS

• Information is presented in brief, reader-friendly and engaging topics that cover a wide range of language themes, ideas, concepts, theories, events and issues.
• Each topic includes a number and a title: e.g. Topic 2: World Languages.
• New topics will be added regularly.
• References are included for users who want to know more.
• The TABLE OF CONTENTS found below is intended to serve as a roadmap or guide making it easy for users to browse the topics, select and read those that are of interest to them.

Is this webpage for you?

If you work with learners from different language backgrounds, this webpage will extend your undertsanding of language. Here’s why that matters:

On a personal level, the information found here will help you better understanding your own language journey, your language skills, experiences and interests.

On a general level, understanding language is part of a broad knowledge of the world, similar to knowledge about addition and subtraction, world geography and countries, famous people, and the solar system (Wong-Fillmore & Snow 2000).

Finally, on a professional level, a broad understanding of language will help you

• encourage personal language reflection;
• acknowledge the richness of the language lives of learners;
• support learners’ language interests and needs;
• prepare an instructional agenda that extends and enriches learners’ language skills and interests;
• strategically integrate language information into the curriculum;
• inspire language discovery and learning;
• engage learners in language discussions;
• respond to language questions and concerns;
• encourage the learning of additional lanaguages;
• promote bi/multilingualism;
• spark interest in language, and
• model inclusive and fair language.

References

Crystal, D. (2005). How Language Works: How babies babble, words change meaning and languages live or die. New York: Penguin Group, Avery.

Crystal, D. (2010). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (3Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Crystal, D. (2018). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (3Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Wong-Fillmore, L. and Snow, C. (2000). What teachers need to know about language. Center for Applied Linguistics, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Washington, D. C.

Invitation

If you have language topics that are of special interest to you, feel free to send them to me:

Roma Chumak-Horbatsch rchumak@torontomu.ca

TABLE OF CONTENTS