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0 INTRODUCTION
Linguistics is the scientific study of language and involves an analysis of language form,
language meaning and language in context. Linguistics is concerned with the nature of language
and communication. It deals both with the study of particular languages and the search for general
properties common to all languages or large groups of languages. It includes phonetics,
phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics.

2.0 THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN


HUMAN COMMUNICATION.

Language consists of a set of social standards that shows comprehension of the meanings
behind words, putting words together in a sentence in order to communicate and understanding
commands, directions and information given by others. People must develop language skills to
grow into a person who can socially interact with others through life.

Language impacts the daily lives of members of any race, creed, and region of the world.
Language helps express our feelings, desires, and queries to the world around us. Words,
gestures and tone are utilized in union to portray a broad spectrum of emotion. The unique and
diverse methods human beings can use to communicate through written and spoken language is
a large part of what allows to harness our innate ability to form lasting bonds.

Next, non-verbal communication for instance body language can be a useful aid in
teaching. It can be used to guide a student towards the right answer. This is usually paired off
with other verbal methods of guiding the student. For example, when teaching about the word
"cry", teachers can imitate a crying person. This enables a deeper impression which is able to
lead to greater understanding of the particular word. The suggestive feature of body language
uses body language as a tool to create opportunities for the students to gain additional information
about a particular concept or word through pairing it with the body language itself.

3.0 THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WRITING AND SPEECH

When we speak to others, the type of communication in which we transmit information to


the listener is through verbally speaking the message. Speech is usually transient, unless
recorded, and speakers can correct themselves and change their utterances as they go along. In
speech mode, which uses written or printed text for exchanging the information is known as
'Written Communication'. Writing is usually permanent and written texts cannot usually be

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changed once they have been printed out. Oral text consists of words with fewer syllables than
the written language. The sentences are generally shorter and self-referencing pronouns such as
I are common. It allows incomplete sentences if delivered properly and many sentences will begin
with "and," "but," and "except”. Writers use more complex sentences with connecting words like
however, who, although, and in addition.

Written language tends to be more complex and intricate than speech with longer
sentences and many subordinate clauses. The punctuation and layout of written texts also have
no spoken equivalent. However some forms of written language, such as instant messages and
email, are closer to spoken language. Spoken language tends to be full of repetitions, incomplete
sentences, corrections and interruptions, with the exception of formal speeches and other scripted
forms of speech, such as news reports and scripts for plays and films.

Writers receive no immediate feedback from their readers, except in computer-based


communication. Writers have a delayed response from audiences or none at all and have only
one opportunity to convey their message, be interesting, informative and hold their reader’s
attention. Therefore they cannot rely on context to clarify things so there is more need to explain
things clearly and unambiguously than in speech, except in written correspondence between
people who know one another well. Speech is usually a dynamic interaction between two or more
people. Context and shared knowledge play a major role, so it is possible to leave much unsaid
or indirectly implied. Speakers have immediate audiences who nod, interrupt, question and
comment to the speech.

4.0 THE IMPORTANCES OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF ARTICULATORY PHONETICS IN


LANGUAGE LEARNING

Most Articulatory Phonetics courses involve learning to produce and transcribe the sounds
represented in a phonetic alphabet. It is especially good at capturing segmental aspects of speech
sounds such as place and manner of articulation and voicing.

The importance of articulatory phonetics is to help our own pronunciation of new or foreign
words and language. Learning the symbols used to represent each speech sound using the full
range of the International Phonetic Alphabet, meant that not only could we learn to transcribe
speech sounds of different accents and languages, but that we could use the symbols included
in dictionaries to help our own pronunciation of new or foreign words.

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Furthermore, phonetics facilitates the ability to understand, hear and reproduce different
vowel qualities help the non-native English speakers. Many different English vowels tend to sound
the same for example 'bit' and 'beat, 'bid' and 'bead'. Phonetics describes intonation and helps
the non-native speaker to recognize and understand the words. The ability to ‘read’ intonation
proves to be extremely useful in many fields. Once an phonetically people understand how
intonation works, they can use this knowledge not only in fields such as language teaching and
learning, but also in voice and accent coaching.

5.0 THE LINK BETWEEN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special needs students need different approaches in teaching and learning than ordinary
students. They may have difficulties using words and to apply the language in their daily life.
Some of them cannot understand the meaning of the words, they do not know how to build
sentences and they may face barriers to pronounce the words.

The main advantage of language learning to the special education is to give other options
for them to deliver their ideas and messages. In language learning, there are two types of
communications which are verbal and non-verbal. Special education student tend to use non-
verbal communication because they do not have knowledge to construct sentences. For example,
a deaf student uses sign language which is one of the non-verbal communication to communicate
with people.

Next, when it comes to pronunciation, students with special needs may be lacking in this
task. They often misheard the sound of the word as a result they pronounce it in their own ways
which are wrong. The language learning helps students with special need to utter the word
correctly because it provides a correct ways to learn it. For example, language learning helps
students with special needs to differentiate the sound of red and bed.

6.0 THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE TO A TEACHER-TO-BE

Linguistics is the study of languages, and as such is of great importance to language


teachers. Linguistics helps teachers convey the origins of words and languages, their historical
applications, and their modern day relevance. Combined, this approach to teaching language
helps students gain a better, more in-depth understanding of their assignments and work product
expectations.

When teaching a foreign language, linguistics is important to a language teacher in that


providing historical context to word origins can help students better understand the language. This

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is especially important when it comes to comprehending the differences among conversational
speech, formal speech, and abstract rules about word usage in different cultures. This can
actually overlap into regional dialects within the same country. For example if a teacher does not
know the where the word “latte” comes from students may pronounce it wrongly mainly for
students with special needs.

The linguistic also will help a fresh graduate teacher to create an effective pedagogy in
class. A teacher who really understands the language will invent effectual ways to explain the
language in an easy method to ensure students will really comprehend the language without
difficulties. For instance, a teacher uses the ICT to teach phonetic.

7.0 CONCLUSION

Language is absolutely central to our learning. Without it, we cannot make sense or
communicate our understanding of a subject. Language is also a system of communication where
sound or signs convey objects, actions and ideas. All the people use the language in their life
including the people with special needs who use the language in different ways. Thus, it is
significant for teachers to master in linguistic or language learning in order to prepare themselves
to teach students.

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REFERENCES

Book

Adams, H. B. (1907). The education of Henry Adams: An autobiography. New York: Heritage

Press.

Akmajian, Adrian; Demers, Richard; Farmer, Ann; Harnish, Robert (2010). Linguistics: An

Introduction to Language and Communication. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. ISBN 0-
262-51370-6.

Andrews, L., Miller, N., Evans, S., & Smith, S. D. (2003). An Internship Model To Recruit, Train,

And Retain Special Educators For Culturally Diverse Urban Classrooms: A Program
Description. Teacher Education and Special Education, 26(1), 74–78

Caldwell, P. (2002b) ‘Learning the Language’ Brighton. Pavilion Publishers

Craft, M. (1996). Cultural Diversity and Teacher Education. In M. Craft (Ed.), Teacher Education
in Plural S

Grove, N., & Walker, M. (1990). The Makaton Vocabulary: Using Manual Signs and Graphic

Symbols to Develop Interpersonal Communication. Augmentative And Alternative


Communication, 6 (1)15-28

Hall, Christopher (2005). An Introduction to Language and Linguistics. Breaking the Language

Spell. Routledge. ISBN 9780826487346.

Nind, M. and Hewett, D. (1994) ‘Access to Communication’. London. David Fulton

Internet

Leonardo De Valoes (2016). Importance of Language. Retrieved on 26th August 2018 from

https://www.trinitydc.edu/continuing-education/2014/02/26/importance-of-language-why-
learning-a-second-language-is-important/

University Of Arizona. What is Linguistic? Retrieved on 25th August 2018 from

https://linguistics.arizona.edu/content/what-linguistics-and-why-study-it-0

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