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English Structures
Language and the Brain
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The Location of Language in the Brain
Now that we have a general grasp of the anatomy of the brain, we can ask the question, "Where in the brain is language located?" While there is not just one answer to this question, scientists have pinpointed some areas that are more important for language than others. These areas are often referred to as the "language centers" of the brain. It may be more accurate to say that the language centers are involved in processing language.
Left Hemisphere
The left hemisphere is the first area to list when describing where language is processed. It seems that certain specific areas in the left hemisphere are responsible for processing certain language tasks. Broca's area, Wernicke's area, the arcuate fasciculus, and the angular gyrus are all located in the left hemisphere. While each of these locations has an equivalent location in the right hemisphere (that is, there is no "hole" on the right side), the right hemisphere doesn't seem to become highly involved in language processing unless there is damage to the left that requires the right side to "pick up the slack."
Broca's Area
| Broca's area is located in the left frontal lobe. Its importance in language processing was first described by Paul Broca. |
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Source: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/lang.html#speak
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Wernicke's Area
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Wernicke's area is located in the left temporal lobe. Its role in language processing was first described by Karl Wernicke. |
Source: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/lang.html#speak
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Arcuate Fasciculus
| Not surprisingly, if Broca's area is important for language, and Wernicke's is, too, then the two areas must be connected somehow. The arcuate fasciculus is a bundle of fibers that connects Broca's area and Wernicke's area together. |
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Source: http://alpha.furman.edu/~einstein/general/neurodemo/lang.htm |
Angular Gyrus
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The angular gyrus is located next to Wernicke's area and is important for reading. It is involved in mapping visual input into language (and this is why it is probably associated with reading). This region is also associated with the ability to understand metaphor. |
| Source: http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_10/a_10_cr/a_10_cr_lan/a_10_cr_lan_1b.jpg |
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Continue to Part 3
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American Sign Language The sign language used by the deaf community in the United States.
Test of English for International Communication. A standardized exam for Educational Testing Services that is intended to determine the general capability of an NNSE to use English to conduct business. It is used by some businesses, predominantly in Asia, in hiring.
Test of English as a Foreign Language. A standardized exam from Educational Testing Services that is intended to determine the general capability of an NNSE to use English as the language of insruction .It is used as an admissions requirement by most US universities and colleges for international students.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. A term that encompasses both TEFL and TESL. It is the name of the professional organization to which many teachers belong. TESOL the organization has many regional affiliates both in the US and abroad.
Teaching English as Second Language. Refers to the activity of teaching the English language as a tool necessary for some daily task like instruction, shopping, or interpersonal interactions.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Refers to the activity of teaching the English language as an intellectual, academic pursuit to non-native speakers of English.
Native Speaker of English. Refers to a person who acquired English in infancy and young childhood as a first language.
Native Speaker. Refers to a person whose relationship to a language is that it was encountered in infancy and young childhood as the dominant language of the environment.
Non-Native Speaker of English. Refers to a person who didn't acquire English as a first language, but came to it after another language was established.
Non-Native Speaker. Refers to a person whose relationship to a particular language is that he/she didn't encounter it while initially acquiring language, but came to it after another language was established.
Limited English Proficient. An adjectival phrase used to refer to the same students as ELL refers to. LEP is falling into disuse as it focuses attention on student deficiency rather than on the positive attribute of learning. Is being replaced by ELL.
Second Language. Refers to any language gained subsequent to the first or native language. It is acquired or learned secondarily to the native language. Doesn't refer to the ordinal numbering of languages, only to the relationship of a particular language to a persons native language.
First Language. Refers to the language that an individual encounters as an infant and young child; a persons native language.
English for Specific Purposes. Refers to the goal of learning English to use it for highly focused activity, such as for business or for aviation communication.
English as a Second Language Program. refers to a school program that is purposefully structured to provide instruction on the English language to NNSEs. An ESL program does not typically include instruction in any other subjects than English. An ESL program may be a component of a larger ELL program at a school.
English as a Second Language. Refers to the subject matter of the English language and the methodology for teaching the English language to non-native speakers. ESL makes no reference to the subjects other than English, but it is not methodology alone either, it refers to teaching the English language as content area. Typically, ESL refers to the study of English in a country where it is used for at least one daily task, such as instruction, interpersonal relations, or shopping.
English Langauge Learner Program. Refers to a school program that is purposly structured to provide instruction on the English language and instruction in other content areas to English Language Learners.
English Language Learner. Refers to students who are in the process of learning English, whether they are in ESL classes exclusively or a combination of ESL classes and other subject area classes.
English as a Foreign Langauge. Refers to the study of English as an intellectual, academic pursuit, not a a language whose use is necessary or desirable for daily life, although it may be used as a research tool. Typically, EFL is the study of English in a country where English is not a language of instruction or daily interactions, such as in Italy or in Saudi Arabia.
English for Academic Purposes. Refers to the goal of learning English to use it as the language of instruction for other subject areas.
Refers to a school program that is purposely structured so that students will use two languages on a daily basis.
Refers to the use of two languages in any capacity on a daily basis. A bilingual person uses two languages on a daily basis--for work and at home, perhaps, or for different subjects at school. Can also refer to the ability to use two languages, even if not used daily.