RTY

Summary

This summary will focus on the chapter Nine Ideas About Language authored by Harvey Daniels. The author begins by claiming that assuming that we agree English as a language has survived predictions that have not been true since the 18th century then it is justified to believe that there is an exaggeration of the reports that the language is dead. He asserts that critics express in an alarming manner how language has changed and being spoken in a dialect that is not standard. However, with linguistics, the change English can be explained and understood in ways that are not alarming. The author states that to have understanding of the misrepresentations by the language critics then it is necessary to examine both the facts and the history of the language. In the article, the author elaborates on nine ideas which he suggests that they are mostly facts about language as presented by linguistic scholars. Comment by Jennifer Haan: There are more interesting ways to start the paper. This is a little bleh… Comment by Jennifer Haan: Run-on, very confusing sentence Comment by Jennifer Haan: Run-on sentence

The first idea presented by the author is that learning of the native language by the children is mainly without instruction, swift and efficient. He backs up this idea by stating that language is specific to species as a trait to the humans. Harvey dismisses the notion that parents usually teach their children how to talk, instead, he asserts that children learn language from those who are around them. He emphasizes in his conclusion that the native language of a child is that which is spoken in their communities and it is therefore challenging to have a child learn to speak another language as they grow up. Another idea presented by the author is that it is with rules that a language operates. He elaborates that when children start to learn their native language then they acquire a vast system having rules that are subconscious and with this then they will be able to speak meaningful and complex words. Comment by Jennifer Haan: Awkward structure and a little to close to the original article.

The third idea is that all languages contain three main components and they include; vocabulary, grammar system and sound system. He goes ahead to give an explanation of each of the elements, he elaborates that a sound system is the phonology of a language and forms the basis of vocal voices and their combinations. According to the article, vocabulary is where the words of an individual are usually stored and young children usually target to expand this as they grow up. As for grammar, the author appreciates that there are two definitions in which he prefers the one which states that it is a system of rules that is used in arranging words to come up with sentences that are meaningful, the other meaning is wide and is not only restricted to rules on arrangement rather it is the entire rules. The next idea is that every person has a dialect in their way of speaking. He observes that it can be geographical and it doesn’t mean that the speaker is making a mistake rather it is just a difference in systematic rules. Comment by Jennifer Haan: Again- run-on sentence, very hard to follow. You are having difficulty with long, difficult to follow, run-ons throughout the paper. I won’t mark all of them, but pay attention to this issue as you revise.

Harvey identifies the other idea as closely associated to the previous one and it is that all those who speak a particular language apply various styles together with jargons or sub-dialects. He asserts that an individual’s speech pattern will differ greatly while they undertake their daily routines. He then explains that the ability by an individual to adjust to the different language forms according to the social context is acquired during childhood. The next idea in the article is that there is no abnormality in language change. Harvey observes that although we may appreciate that there is a change in language, it is not possible to give an explanation on the cause of each of the changes. Comment by Jennifer Haan: Instead of just listing the ideas in order, can you group them into different categories that are associated with each other?

Another fact in the article about languages is that languages are closely associated with the societies and the people who use it. The author claims that all languages that are spoken by humans are shaped and then it transforms so as to meet the needs of those who speak it. He summarizes by stating that all languages together with their concepts are appropriate to the native speech communities. The next idea according to the article is that value judgements in regards to various languages or dialects are due to taste. He argues that once a person acquires their native language then also develop attitudes in regards to the values of those languages spoken by other people. The final idea presented by Harvey is that writing is derived from speech, he adds that the systems of writing are usually based on oral language systems which develop first. In conclusion, Harvey confirms that all the mentioned facts is a clear indication that there should be no panic in regards to language change as language cannot die given that there is existence of its speakers.

Personal Response

The article by Harvey Daniels is convincing and informative, this is mainly because he gives detailed explanations and examples for each of the idea highlighted. Most of the things are interesting to me in the article because I was not aware before and had never thought about them. One of these is that even those belonging to a certain speech community will still have sub-dialects, this is interesting because with keen observation, I realized that in the course of daily routine, I adjust my language form. Another surprising fact to me is that on the notion among many people including myself that children are not actually taught language by those who are around them rather they learn by themselves. I fully agree with the author when he states in the seventh idea that human language is shaped then changes by its speakers rather than the other way round. In summary, I agree with most of the information presented by the author and the article is a credible one. Comment by Jennifer Haan: You could engage a little more deeply with the article in your reflection. Overall good draft.