“Nine Ideas About Language” by Harvey A. Daniels
Reference
Viriginia P. Clark, et al.,(1985) eds., Language: Introductory
Readings, 4th Edition, St. Martin’s Press, pp. 18-36. Reprinted for York
University Bookstore Course Kits, ESL1000 9.0/HUMA1220 9.0A, Canadian
Language and Culture, Fall/Winter 2004/2005. pp. 43 – 61.
Thesis Statement: “[M]ost of the uses of and apparent changes in
language which worry the critics can be explained and understood in
unalarming ways.” (Course Kit [hereafter CK], p. 43).
“1. Children learn their native language swiftly, efficiently, and largely
without instruction.” (CK, p. 44)
 Language is an inherent human facility;
 Young children who are exposed to a particular language will
acquire it without instruction.
“2. Language operates by rules.” (CK, p. 45)
 Rules are subconscious and incorporated without instruction;
 Superficial grammar may vary from one language to another,
as well as regionally.
“3. All languages have three major components: a sound system, a
vocabulary, and a system of grammar.” (CK, p. 46)
 Phonology – children have the potential to make any possible
human sound but are gradually limited to those sounds used
in the particular language that they learn;
 Semantics – children spontaneously categorize and classify
words;
 Grammar: the rule system of a language
 1. dictates how language should be;
 2. describes how language works.
“4. Everyone speaks a dialect.” (CK, p. 48)
 The Standard dialect is the language of power;
 No dialect is in itself better than any other.
“5. Speakers of all languages employ a range of styles and a set of
subdialects or jargons.” (CK, p. 49)
 Language variation is the norm, not the exception;
 Various styles or registers (context/status/mode);
 Jargon fosters feelings of belonging, association.
© 2004 Courtney Fairweather
“6. Language change is normal.” (CK, p. 53)
 Simplification;
 Regularize;
 New social & technological developments;
 Neologisms: new words or expressions;
 Change is much slower than most people think.
“7. Languages are intimately related to the societies and individuals who
use them.” (CK, p. 56)
 No language is easier or more difficult than any other;
 Cognitive development occurs simultaneously with language
acquisition;
 Linguistic/cognitive development reflects the circumstances
of our environment and experience;
 Language is central to our sense of self and loss of language
can create feelings of severe anxiety and alienation.
“8. Value judgments about different languages or dialects are matters of
taste.” (CK, p. 57)
 No language is better or worse than any other;
 Judgments about languages reveal prejudice and
stereotypes
“9. Writing is derivative of speech.” (CK, p. 59)
 All cultures have language;
 The existence of a written form of that language may aid
communication but also inhibit growth and change.
© 2004 Courtney Fairweather