Authors

Janel Beedle

Faculty Advisor

Kristin Bovaird-Abbo

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

4-2020

Abstract

This presentation explores the lack of education provided by public secondary schools on the discipline of linguistics. In general linguistics studies human language and its various meanings, context, and forms. Some aspects that are specifically analyzed are: phonetics, morphology, and syntax. Most language learners subconsciously adapt and adhere to language rules, leading the discipline of linguistics seemingly unimportant to teach. However, in this presentation, I believe I will be able to examine several benefits of teaching secondary student's linguistics. This presentation will analyze a case study of a high school linguistics class, reported by the Linguistic Society of America. This presentation will also depend upon scholarly journals as well to prove that linguistics is beneficial for students in two ways: improving education and creating a socially comfortable learning environment. By educating young students on linguistics, these students can use that knowledge to understand and value the diversity of language that occurs in secondary schools. This will aid in efforts against bullying of currently learning or non-English speaking students. Another valuable aspect of linguistics plays into student’s education. For example, most students are required to learn new languages at school— Spanish, French, German. Most students struggle with adapting to learn these languages because they are not taught the underlying rules of the language. Linguistics also can further push students understanding of literature, specifically when analyzing poetry. English is also another subject in school secondary students struggle with. Elements of linguistics I specified earlier include syntax and phonetics, which are tools that would aid student’s writing and understanding of difficult texts.

Download
COinS