Brenda E.

Melero Ventola (70885673-H) Universidad de Salamanca, Diciembre 2011

SOCIOLINGUISTICS
ESSAY

After reading the texts, I have observed that human languages obey to three basic reasons: economy, creativity and symbolism. Economy is determinate by the physic and psychic humans limitations. Mankind just can emit and distinguish efficiently a limited number of sounds. Furthermore, its memory and capacity to process the information are also limited. Human languages are an imminently creative property. Humans can cast and understand absolutely new expressions because their linguistic knowledge allows apply general standards to particular cases. Finally, language is extremely symbolic because it remits to a different reality of its own reality (metareality). Creativity is the central principle among the basic reasons that regulates human language because it is demanded by its peripheral characteristics: The Economy, that its determinate by the way of material execution; and the Symbolism determinate by its denotative character.

Brenda E. Melero Ventola (70885673-H) Universidad de Salamanca, Diciembre 2011

Among all the topics presented in this course I have chosen for this essay the subject of bilingualism, because it has got a great relevance in lots of the proposal readings. And also because I believe that this is an important and current topic as English language has already spread throughout the whole world. As far as we can observe in most of the readings, for many people all around the world the ability of speak more than one language forms part of their daily life and there are lots of countries that stimulate bilingualism. In his essay named Multiple Voices: An introduction to bilingualism, Myers- Scotton shows that the Modern Lingua Franca, English, is taking over other languages, and therefore, their identities. According to my point of view, languages are a way of identifying cultures, but they are not a static human feature which remains there and does not share anything else with the other languages that surround it or that it keeps in contact with, but keeps changing, developing and introducing in itself new words or expressions that will become part of both the language and its culture. As it is said, languages are an identification mark of a society; societies change; therefore, languages change and introduce little spots of other cultures and languages features. In despite of language mutations, I believe we also have to understand the world today. It changes too quickly for the human mind to be able to accept it, and this brings the idea of a language or 2

Brenda E. Melero Ventola (70885673-H) Universidad de Salamanca, Diciembre 2011

a culture swallowing another. So I do agree with Myers- Scotton in the idea that languages should be understood for what they are: a tool for communication. Languages have carried out their duty throughout their history, and so they are doing in present day. We can also see this point of bilingualism and Lingua Franca in David Graddols text, The European English Messenger. In his exposition Graddol depicts how English language is in use amongst European youngsters. They are using English as their common language, to be able to communicate with one to another. This does not mean that they have to drop their own language, their mother tongue, because what is taking place is taking advantage of this opportunity to communicate with other people leaving the linguistic barriers aside. Although, what Graddol also exposes in his essay, is the way the English language is being used. Many non-native speakers are not using it correctly and this is bringing to diminish the proper language, the RP standard, for native speakers. But further than this, a sort of new English Languages are being created. Therefore, speakers should stick to the standard. And here is where teaching appears. There are many educational methods (all having their good and bad points, but some quite good ones) that will help to the proper learning of the language, such as CLIL, mentioned in David Marshs text, Using languages to learn and learning to use languages, CLIL. I agree with this method, which will favour the natural learning of languages and

Brenda E. Melero Ventola (70885673-H) Universidad de Salamanca, Diciembre 2011

also will improve teaching methods; developing a better education and having thus better prepared individuals. Throughout the these text I have understood that English Language functions as the Modern Lingua Franca, and also that teaching methods can help to develop language skills which will be useful in many areas of peoples life. I agree with the idea of having a common language is a way of leaving aside barriers in communication. Once these barriers have been pulled down we will be able to develop and improve our own society, and not go backwards, as in some cases has been understood, because what we have to realise is that we are currently living in a global world and languages are carrying on with their duty: maintain worldwide communication. In conclusion, I observed that Language, Thought and Culture are strongly connected to each other. Cultures changes also cause changes in Language and Thought. A person that speaks more than one language produces a code s exchange when communicates something to other people. Usually they use words from different languages in a single conversation. But this type of language its not a random mixture that comes from laziness or ignorance. On the contrary, is associated with a vast knowledge of two or more languages and awareness of what is considered appropriate or not in a community.

Brenda E. Melero Ventola (70885673-H) Universidad de Salamanca, Diciembre 2011

After all, each community can have its own rules for talking to exchange code, so that may be necessary changes in their practice to understand the terms within the political and historical context.