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English Structures
Writing Systems
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Activity: Writing in Different Languages
| Directions: Get a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Use the materials to copy the writing you see in each of the following images. Click on an image for a larger picture. |
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Now think on your experience with copying and consider how you'd answer the following questions. After you have thought of your own answer, click on the link to see how others have responded to this activity.
- Were any selections easier than others to copy?
- Why?
- What kinds of things ran through your head as you tried to copy the writing?
- What questions and issues does this raise for you?
Discussion - Lesson 4, Page 1 |
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Review and Introduction
Spoken language is a human universal: all human societies have language. Language can exist in two modalities: spoken and written. Spoken language is the universal form. Written language is not universal. Some human societies have never developed a written form for their own language, while other societies have a long history and tradition of written language. Linguists use the following terms to describe the various levels of development of written language:
- Preliterate
- Literate
- Illiterate
A preliterate society is one which has not developed a written form for itself. Although an outsider may have entered the society, learned the language, and developed a written form of the language, unless the members of the society themselves adopt and use the written form, the society is still essentially a preliterate society; a society without a written language. A preliterate society typically lacks books, newspapers, or other material based on writing. The people themselves typically do not use written language as a means to communicate with each other, or the use of written language is extremely limited because the form itself does not exist and the society is not dependent upon extensive written records. Certain societies in the Pacific Islands may best be described as preliterate societies.
A literate society is one which has developed a written form of it own language, uses that form, and teaches the written form in its schools to the young members of the society. The members of the society have materials in the written form, such as books and newspapers, and use the written form to communicate or maintain records. The United States presents a familiar example of a literate society.
An illiterate society is one that has developed a written form of its own language, but fails to use the written form for the purposes of communication or record keeping. The use of the written form may be limited to an elite subsection of members or may have been used more in the past than in the present. When the majority of members of a society do not know how to use their own written language form, the society may be referred to as an illiterate society. Many European countries of the Middle Ages may have been illiterate societies.
The terms illiterate and literate may be applied to individuals within a society, as well. A literate individual is one who lives in a society that has developed a written form of its own language and is able to use that written form for communication. An illiterate individual is one in a society that has developed a written form of its own language, but the individual is unable to use that written form. The term preliterate is generally not applied to individuals, although on occasion it may be used to refer to a young child who is still in the early stages of first language acquisition. The term would not be used to refer to any adult. Instead, we would say that an individual is a member of a preliterate society.
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Go to Part 2
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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.
