Linguistic Principles

The teaching of English has been influenced greatly by the linguistic. A few linguistic principles which are
applicable to English language are given below:

Principle 1. Importance of Sounds: Sounds are the basic feature of a language. So the sounds of English should be
given priority while teaching. The sentences of English should be spoken with proper intonation an rhythm.

Principles 2. Imitation: The child learns his mother tongue through imitation. It is useless to lay stress on grammar
as a means of learning a language.

Principles 3. Importance of Context and Situations: The child learns his mother tongue in certain situations and
different contexts. Different languages items like vocabulary, structures etc. should be dealt with in the context of
some appropriate situations so that the leaner may find them very near to life.

Principles 4. Controlled Vocabulary: Vocabulary of English should be taught in a controlled manner. Simple
words should be taught first and difficult words should be taught gradually according to the age and ability of the
learners.

Principles 5. Graded Patterns: It means that patterns of English should be taught gradually through graded steps.
The teacher should go on adding each new pattern to previous ones.

Principles 6. Selection and gradation: It means: teach first those sentence structures, the use of which can be made
clear by means of visible actions in the class room. In this way the pupil will acquire the language more thoroughly
in association with action.

Principles 7. Priorities of Language Skills: There are four languages skills namely understanding through
listening, speaking, reading and writing, listening should lead to speaking, speaking to reading and reading to
writing.

Principles 8. Oral approach: The next linguistic principle of teaching English is that of oral approach. Language is
more concerned with ears and tongue than it is with eyes. Every human being learns language first by listening and
speaking.

Principles 9. Multiple line of Approach: The term multiple line implies that one is to proceed simultaneously from
many different points towards the one and the same end. It means a lesson which is to be taught by the teacher
should be tackled from many sides.

Principles 10. Formation of Language Habits: It means when English is to be learnt as a second language, new
habits have to be formulated.

Principles 11. Use of Mother Tongue: It means, the use of mother tongue can be made at the early stages for
explaining certain things. The students should not make use of mother tongue during the period of English teaching.

Principles 12. Accuracy: Inaccurate habits of pronunciation, spelling, writing etc, once formed cannot be easily
undone. In learning English one must attempt to imitate exactly the forms, the structures and the mode of utterance
of the native speakers of English.

Principles 13. Some Maxims: These maxims are useful not only for learning English but also for learning any
subject. The teacher of English should keep those maxims in mind while teaching English.
Principles 14. Natural way of Teaching/Learning: This principle means that we should follow the natural process
of learning a language.
Principle 15. Balanced Approach: This principle stresses upon the fact that a balanced approach should be

followed while teaching. It is not good if a teacher teachers grammar and ignores other aspects of the language.

Characteristics and Principles of Language

Language is a vehicle

Language is a means for communicating ideas, thoughts, feelings, experiences

and emotions. It helps in reaching out to the people who are living far away.
Practically it is not possible to reach them physically in short span of time so
language is said to be a vehicle.

Language is learnt

Language is learnt gradually from childhood. When a child is born he doesn’t

know any language but gradually through their parents by imitating them he
starts learning language. So it is acquired by the child by putting in lot of efforts.

Language is a system

Every language has its own unique system. Each language has three elements
Sounds, Words and Structure.

Combination of sounds gives us words which are arranged meaningfully in

order to convey a thought, feelings etc. So we can say that language is
systematic.

Language is a system of symbols

Different words used in a language are the symbols. Every thing has certain
symbol or certain name through which we recognize it. If the speaker or the
listener understand the meaning of symbol then only the language can function
properly.

Language is arbitrary
Symbols of language is arbitrary means there is no visual relationship between
the language item and the object for which it stands. Symbols or words are not
based on any logical or scientific principles. Eg: A table is called table since its
origin and there is no logic behind it.

Language is vocal

Every language has its own unique words or symbols. And every word is vocal.
There is no language which does not exist in vocal form.

Language is unique

Each language is unique because of its own style and vocabulary. Due to different
geographical and cultural diversities every language is different from other.

Language is ever changing

No language on this earth is static. Every language is supposed to undergo a

change with the passage of time. There are certain addition of vocabularies due
to new technologies, new experiences, new products, and it require new words.
There is change in the language due to change in needs and living style of
people.

RINCIPLE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Language: is a medium through which one can express one’s ideas, thoughts, feelings etc. Different
languages are spoken in the world.

• It is very difficult to ascertain how these languages originated. It is believed that people started
conveying message through signals, postures, gestures etc.

• Language is a human system of communication that uses arbitrary signals such as voice, sounds,
gestures and written symbols.

• According to Edward Sapir, “Language is a purely human and non – instinctive method of
communicating ideas, • emotions and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols”.

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(A) Characteristics of a Language:

1. Language is a Vital Part of Growth Process: It is a social act, a means of adjustment to control over
other people, Language exists in a society, it is a means of nourishing and developing culture and
establishing human relations.

2. Language is Symbolic: Language consists of various symbols that are employed to denote some
objects, occurrences or meaning.

3. Language is Systematic: Although language symbolic yet its symbols are arranged in a particular
system. All languages have phonological and grammatical system and within a system there are several
subsystems.

4. Language is Arbitrary: There is no inherent relation between the words of a language and their meaning
or the ideas conveyed by them.

5. Language is Productive and Creative: The structural elements of human language can be combined to
produce new utterances, never heard before according to the needs of a society.

(B) Aims of Language Teaching:

• Ability to understand the speaker’s language.

• Ability to read along with understanding.

• Ability to express fluently and diversely using different skills.

• Ability to present or write view in a coherent manner.

• Ability to learn technological language used in teaching of other subjects such as music, computers or
sports etc.

• Ability to understand the scientific aspect of a language.

• Development of creative skills.

• Development of a learner’s sensitivity towards national issues, cultural heritage and different aspects
contemporary life.

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(C) Importance of Language:

• Language is our primary source of communication. It is the method through which we share our ideas
and thoughts with others.

• The three phases of human knowledge preservation, transmission and advancement are possible only
with the help of a language.

• Language is also the best source of social and cultural development.

(I) Importance of English Language:

Study and use of English language is important in India as it is the most common foreign language.
Everyone needs to learn the language in order to get in touch on an international level.

According to University Grants Commission (UGC),

English is a language which is rich in literature – humanistic, scientific and technical. It under sentimental
urges, it should give up English language, we would cut ourselves off from the living stream of ever
growing knowledge”.

• Some more reasons of its importance are as follow

• English is also the primary language of press, internet. More books and newspapers are written in
English than in any other language.

• English is the only language where maximum resources are available which makes it easier to learn.

• English, being an international language, makes travel and business convenient to others.

• In India, English is regarded as the second language so its importance cannot be undermined.

(E) Principles of Language Teaching:

1. Theory of Motivation and Interest: Motivation is an important factor in language learning particularly in
learning a second language. English resource and text books should be selected according to the interest
and aptitudes of students. The teacher can arouse pupils’ interest in a number of ways and language
learning can be made increasingly interesting. It can be done with the help of charts, pictures, flash cards,
models, black board sketches and other similar visual devices.

2. Theory of Imitation: According to many psychologists, the child learns a language through imitation.
Good speech is the result of imitating good pronunciation and vocabulary. Imitation followed by intensive
practice helps in the mastery of the language system.

3. Theory of Habit Formation: ‘Language learning’ according to Palmer, “is essentially habit forming
process, a process during which we acquire new habits”. Teacher can make language pattern as habit
through intensive pattern practice in a variety of situations. In language learning habits of speech,
listening, reading, writing, correct pronunciation should be formed.

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4. Theory of Exercise (Practice and Drill): According to BF Skinner, psychological experiments have
proved that practicing and drilling play an important part in language teaching. Teacher should make sure
that repetitions of things at proper intervals should be done.
5. Theory of Individual Differences: Every child is unique and different from others. In language teaching
we have to keep in mind that learners possess different abilities, personalities and belong to different
backgrounds. So, stimulus need of every learner will be different. Teaching has to be done keeping in
mind the individuals differences and problems arising out of it. The teachers should adopt different tact’s,
strategies and multiple approaches to make learning meaningful.

6. Theory of Using Mother: Mother tongue should be sparingly and judiciously used while teaching
English. Of course, at an early stage, some explanations will have to be given in pupils’ mother tongue but
at later stages inputs from the targeted language in a simple graded manner can help in minimizing the
influence of mother tongue.

7. Correlation with Life: English should be practiced in everyday situations with which children can easily
identify. This way meaning will be clarified and reinforced.

8. Theory of Oral Approach: Speech motivates the learners to learn. Speech must precede reading and
writing. Introduction to lessons should begin orally as learning to speak a language is always the shortest
way to learning to read and write it.

9. Theory of Selection and Gradation: Items of learning should be presented according to the order of
ease. It should not be too rigid grading. There should be structural and vocabulary grading. Essential
vocabulary and basic structures of a language should be taught first.

(F) Maxims Used while Teaching English Language:

1. Known to the Unknown: Teaching should be carried on what the students know either in their native
language or in English. It is considered that old knowledge lays the foundation of new knowledge. e.g.
pronoun in English grammar should be taught when the learner has a knowledge of nouns.

2. Simple to Complex: Simple things and vocabulary should be taught first before proceeding to complex
structures or vocabulary items. By learning simple things learners feel motivated and confident that would
certainly help in better understanding of complex things.

3. Concrete to Abstract: Concrete things are real things which can be seen and felt by our senses.
Abstract things can be just imagined. Teaching done with the help of concrete objects lasts for a longer
period e.g. a learner can imagine about a golden apple only if he has seen an apple.

4. Analysis to Synthesis: When teaching is done from detailed teaching to summarizing we go from
analysis to synthesis e.g. if a learner is taught different tenses with examples, he is able to understand
sentence structures easily.

5. Induction to Deduction: in induction method, we give some examples first then try to reach on a
conclusion. In deduction, first of all a rule is explained than some examples are given. Teaching should
always precede from induction to deduction. Examples speak louder than language explanation. Such
examples can help the students learn much better the complicated concepts.

6. Psychological to Logical: While teaching, the interests, aptitudes, capacities and difficulty level of the
learners should be kept in mind. e.g. vocabulary and sentence structure of a language should be taught
keeping in mind the difficulty level of the learners and then they could be arranged and explained in a
logical manner.
7. Relate form to Meaning and Contextualize: All class activities should be meaningful, whatever activity
the students are involved in, the students should be able to understand the meaning of what they hear,
say, read or write. Teach new vocabulary items in context.