Summer SAVY 2016 (Session 2, Day 1) – Looking into Language

Posted by hallep on Monday, June 20, 2016 in Grade 3, Grade 4, SAVY.

Today we initiated our course on Linguistics by talking about what language is and how it differs from other kinds of communication. We were able to brainstorm some classroom rules and talked about the importance of respecting our fellow students. Before lunch we took a hypothetical trip back in time to see how the English language has changed over the years from its beginnings among the German tribes that settled the British islands. After lunch we began to explore variations in language in the U.S., focusing on differences in pronunciation of particular vowels as well different terms for familiar things. Our focus over the day was to discover the ways that languages change over time and vary by region.

We look forward to tomorrow when we will begin to learn how to transcribe speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Students should be prepared for an intense day of learning about phonology!