The Linguist On Language

Language skil s are unlike most of the skil s we acquire in life. This is for two reasons. First because language is so important to everything we do, and second, because we learn language largely passively. We learn more by listening and reading than by speaking. This is true for our first language, and it is also true for any other language we learn.

Unless we have a physical disability, we al learn to talk. Some of us start talking earlier than others, but all children learn to speak their first language. We do this without any dril s or explanations, and largely without correction. We do not need a textbook to learn to speak. We just imitate what we hear, noticing words and phrases and patterns. In fact we learn as we listen passively, and then start talking when we feel like it. Some children, like Einstein, do not start talking until quite late, but they are learning al the time they are listening. How wel we learn to use the language wil depend on our exposure to the language, not when we start talking.

If we hear people around us talking about a wide variety of subjects as children, we natural y and passively pick up the words and phrases they use. If we pick up a lot of words, we wil have an advantage when we start school. If we read a lot in school, driven by what interests us, we wil acquire a larger and larger vocabulary and achieve a high level of literacy.

This wil give us an advantage in our education and in our professional life.

If we are exposed to a limited vocabulary as children growing up, and if we do not develop the habit of reading a lot, we wil not learn so many words, and we will have fewer phrases and ways of expressing ourselves. We wil do less wel in school and professional y. In general, remedial reading or grammar instruction wil not help the poor reader catch up. What wil help is increased exposure to the language, reading and listening to more and more stimulating and chal enging content. The earlier this starts the better, but it is never too late.

The same is true when we learn a second language. We mostly need to hear it and read it.

We do not need to be taught how to speak. It is something we do natural y. We can even take advantage of our knowledge of a first language to learn words in the new language faster. We do not need to experience everything in life over again. When we notice words, phrases and patterns in the new language, we at first relate them to our own language. Gradual y we get used to the strange patterns of the new language, and they start to seem natural. They become natural, not because they were explained to us, but because we have come across them so often in different interesting contexts.

We do not need instruction in pronunciation any more than we need instruction to imitate regional accents in our own language. We just need to let ourselves go, observe and imitate.

Unfortunately, we are often more self-conscious when pronouncing a new language because we take ourselves too seriously. We often are more relaxed when we try to imitate different accents in our own language, which is only playacting. This is not the case with the child who simply imitates without inhibition.

I have learned 10 languages. I always found passive learning enjoyable. I just listen, read, review and observe. As long as I am exposed to the language, I am learning passively and it does not matter when I start to use the language. I start using it when I feel like it. In fact I study what I want, on my own schedule. I do not need to start anywhere or finish anywhere. I can have several books or audio books going at the same time.

I fol ow my inclinations. Sometimes I am more motivated to review new words and phrases, sometimes I am more motivated to listen and read. I never know when I wil learn a word or language pattern. My brain seems to just learn them on its own schedule, not on a schedule set out by a teacher or a text book.

Whenever I was asked questions about my reading, questioned on my vocabulary, asked to fil in the blanks, or had to do tests, it disrupted my enjoyment of passive learning. It interrupted my learning. It annoyed me and my learning energy would fizzle.

Learning a language does require effort. But it is the effort of the learner pushing on a slightly open door, pursuing things of interest. It is the pleasant effort of passive learning.

Rubem Alves, a wonderful educator

Rubem Alves is a Brazilian educator whom I discovered as part of my Portuguese studies. I enjoy reading his comments and listening to his wonderful audio books.

Here is what Rubem Alves says about grammar.

"If the scientific knowledge of anatomy were a condition for making love, professors of anatomy would be unrivaled lovers. If the academic knowledge of grammar were a condition for making literature, grammarians would be unrivaled writers. But this is not the case.....Grammar is made with words that are dead. Literature is made with words that are alive."