DLS 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Regular Language, Scientific Method, The Language Instinct

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Second-Language Teaching
• Course: DLS 1100
• Professor: Sima Paribakht

Document Summary

Definitions: a statement capturing key features of concept which varies depending on individual understanding of concept. Requires choices on what facets need to be included. Theory: extended definition; elaborates on all parts of concept. Dictionary: systematic means of communicating ideas/feelings using conventionalized signs/sounds/gestures/marks having understood meanings. "the language instinct": complex, specialized skill developed in child without conscious effort or formal instruction. Distinct from general abilities to process info or behave intelligently. Dictionary: acquiring knowledge of a subject/skill by study/experience/instruction. Psychologist: a change in an individual caused by experience. Dictionary: showing/helping someone to learn how to do something, giving instructions, guiding, providing with knowledge, Learning how to teach l2 = understanding how/why ppl learn. What parts of l2 is difficult to learn. Effects of approach, textbooks, materials, teacher style, institutional facts. Scientific and observation; ignored intuition and hidden meanings. Break down languages into scientific units and comparing them. Just like scientific method of studying human behavior.