and which contain lexical, grammatical, and other linguistic features which
are different from ordinary language (see register). In language teaching,
decisions must be made as to whether a learner or group of learners requires
a language for general purposes or for special purposes.
see also English for special purposeslanguage shift n
the process by which a new language is acquired by a community usually
resulting with the loss of the community’s first language. Many minority
communities (e.g. the native Maori in New Zealand and the Hawaians
in Hawaii) have experienced language shift as their first language has
been gradually replaced by English. Attempts to prevent language shift are
known as language maintenance.
language skills n
also skills
(in language teaching) the mode or manner in which language is used.
Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are generally called the four
language skills. Sometimes speaking and writing are called the active/
productive skillsand reading and listening, the passive/receptive skills.
Often the skills are divided into subskills, such as discriminating sounds in
connected speech, or understanding relations within a sentence.
see also micro-skills
language socialization n
the process by which children and other newcomers to a social group become
socialized into the group’s culture through exposure to and participation in
language-mediated social activities. Language socialization is thought to be
a key to the acquisition of both linguistic and sociocultural knowledge.
Thus acquisition of specific skills in a language is shaped by the culturally
specific activities within which these skills are used.
language survey n
investigation of language use in a country or region. Such a survey may be
carried out to determine, for example:
a which languages are spoken in a particular region
b for what purposes these languages are used
c what proficiency people of different age-groups have in these languages.
see also language planning
language transfer n
the effect of one language on the learning of another. Two types of language
transfer may occur. Positive transferis transfer which makes learning easier,
language shift