A Guide for ESL Teachers: How to Teach the Historical A Guide for ESL Teachers: How to Teach the Historical

Background of English Irregularities Background of English Irregularities

in Modern English in Modern English

Valeria ScherfValeria ScherfAdvisor: Dr. Kathy Lyday-LeeAdvisor: Dr. Kathy Lyday-Lee

TESOL Symposium Greensboro CollegeTESOL Symposium Greensboro CollegeJuly 10, 2008July 10, 2008

The Beauty of the English LanguageThe Beauty of the English Language

EggEggplant - plant - FrenchFrench fries - fries - Guinea pigGuinea pig PineapplePineapple - - quickquicksand - boxing sand - boxing ringsrings

Tooth Tooth teethteeth booth booth beethbeeth?? 1 goose 1 goose 2 2 geesegeese 1 moose 1 moose 22 meesemeese?? Teachers Teachers taughttaught preachers preachers praughtpraught??

ĊĊildild ( (fromfrom OE OE cildcild); plural ); plural waswas ċċildru ildru : re-pluralized during ME to : re-pluralized during ME to childrenchildren

The Purpose of the StudyThe Purpose of the Study

To provide to ESL teachers with a textbook with To provide to ESL teachers with a textbook with changes that have occurred in modern English changes that have occurred in modern English

since Anglo-Saxon times.since Anglo-Saxon times.

Justification for the StudyJustification for the Study

““Precisely because he is a teacher, in a school, and it is thePrecisely because he is a teacher, in a school, and it is the business of a school to formulate statements which arebusiness of a school to formulate statements which are generalizations about many facts and experiences.” generalizations about many facts and experiences.”

(Twaddell, 1962)(Twaddell, 1962)

““EFL teachers should have knowledge not just of English butEFL teachers should have knowledge not just of English but also about English.”also about English.”

(www.jobs.languagelink.ru/TEFL/programmes.php)(www.jobs.languagelink.ru/TEFL/programmes.php)

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

• Would a teacher’s guide focused on English irregularities be useful to Would a teacher’s guide focused on English irregularities be useful to ESL teachers?ESL teachers?

• What kinds of English irregularities cause the most difficulties for What kinds of English irregularities cause the most difficulties for ESL students?ESL students?

DefinitionsDefinitions

• SyntheticSynthetic languagelanguage: One that indicates the relation of words in a : One that indicates the relation of words in a sentence largely by means of inflections (e.g. Old English)sentence largely by means of inflections (e.g. Old English)

• AnalyticAnalytic languagelanguage: One that makes extensive use of prepositions and : One that makes extensive use of prepositions and auxiliary verbs and depends upon word order to show other relationships auxiliary verbs and depends upon word order to show other relationships (e.g. Modern English)(e.g. Modern English)

• LevelingLeveling: A process of phonetic simplification, where unstressed syllables : A process of phonetic simplification, where unstressed syllables are dropped. (e.g. OE are dropped. (e.g. OE stānumstānum stānustānu stānəstānə stānstān))

• AnalogyAnalogy: The linguistic tendency to create a grammatical or semantic : The linguistic tendency to create a grammatical or semantic form based on existing forms in a language, which often results in a form based on existing forms in a language, which often results in a regularization of the part of speech. (e.g. OE past participle regularization of the part of speech. (e.g. OE past participle

cloven cloven cleavedcleaved, , bacenbacen bakedbaked) ) (Baugh, & Cable, 2002) (Baugh, & Cable, 2002)

Major Time PeriodsMajor Time Periods

• Pre- English 43 AD - 449Pre- English 43 AD - 449: : CeltsCelts RomansRomans Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and FrisiansAngles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians

• 450-1100450-1100: : Old English PeriodOld English Period• 780-1014780-1014: : Norse Invasion Norse Invasion• 10661066: : Norman InvasionNorman Invasion

• 1100-15001100-1500: : Middle English PeriodMiddle English Period• 1500-16501500-1650: : Renaissance PeriodRenaissance Period• 1650-18001650-1800: : Early Modern EnglishEarly Modern English• 1800-Present1800-Present: : Modern EnglishModern English

(Emerson, 1933)(Emerson, 1933) (Pyles, 1964)(Pyles, 1964) (Bragg, 2003)(Bragg, 2003)

Inflectional ChangesInflectional Changes Strong Masculine NounStrong Masculine Noun

SingularSingular

PluralPlural

(Robertson, 1934) (Robertson, 1934) (Stevick, 1968) (Stevick, 1968) (Pyles, & Algeo, 1963) (Pyles, & Algeo, 1963)

Old Old EnglishEnglish

Middle Middle EnglishEnglish

Modern Modern EnglishEnglish

(450-1100)(450-1100) (1100- 1500)(1100- 1500) (1500-(1500-Present)Present)

N. N. st stānān

G. G. ststān-esān-es

D. D. ststān-eān-e

AA. . ststānān

----------------------------------------

N. N. ststānān-as-as

G. G. ststānān- a- a

D.D. ststān-umān-um

A. A. ststānān––asas

N. N. ststān-eān-e

G. G. ststān-esān-es

AA. . ststān-eān-e

----------------------------------------------

N. N. ststān-esān-es

G. G. ststān-e hisān-e his

A. A. ststān–esān–es

N. N. stonestone

G. G. stone’sstone’s

AA. stone. stone

----------------------------------------

N. N. stonesstones

G. G. stones’stones’

A. A. stonesstones

Inflectional ChangesInflectional ChangesStrong Masculine AdjectiveStrong Masculine Adjective

SingularSingular

PluralPlural

(Robertson, 1934)(Robertson, 1934)(Stevick, 1968)(Stevick, 1968)

(Pyles, & Algeo, 1963)(Pyles, & Algeo, 1963)

Old Old EnglishEnglish

Middle Middle EnglishEnglish

Modern Modern EnglishEnglish

(450-1100)(450-1100) (1150-1000)(1150-1000) (1500-(1500-Present)Present)

N. N. ggōōd d

G. G. ggōōd-esd-es

D. D. ggōōd-umd-um

AA.. g gōōd-ned-ne

II. g. gōōd-ed-e

----------------------------

N.N. g gōōd-ed-e

GG. g. gōōd-ed-e

DD. g. gōōd-ed-e

AA. g. gōōd-ed-e

N. N. ggōōd d

G. G. ggōōde de

D. D. ggōōdede

A. A. ggōōdede

------------------------------

N. N. ggōōdede

G. G. ggōōdede

A. A. ggōōdede

N. N. goodgood

G. G. goodgood

D. D. goodgood

A. A. goodgood

--------------------------------

NN. Good. Good

GG. good. good

AA. Good. Good

Inflectional ChangesInflectional Changes

VerbsVerbs

AdverbsAdverbs

(http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/resources/IOE/advconprep.html)(http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/resources/IOE/advconprep.html)(Pei, 1952)(Pei, 1952)

(Baugh, & Cable, 2002)(Baugh, & Cable, 2002)

Old Old EnglishEnglish

Middle Middle EnglishEnglish

Modern Modern EnglishEnglish

((450-450-11001100))

(1100-(1100-1500)1500)

(1500-(1500-Present)Present)

drdrīīfan fan

drdrāāff

drifendrifen

drifedrife

drafdraf

drifendrifen

drivedrive

drovedrove

drivendriven

Old Old EnglishEnglish

Middle Middle EnglishEnglish

Modern Modern EnglishEnglish

(450-1100)(450-1100) (1100-1500)(1100-1500) (1500-Present)(1500-Present)

llēēof-e - of-e - (l(lēoēoffly)ly)

llēēoflice oflice llēēoflicoflic

llēēofli ofli lovinglylovingly

Inflectional Changes Inflectional Changes Personal Pronouns Personal Pronouns

Singular Singular N. N. īċīċ ð ðūū h hēē (he)(he) h hēēo o (she) (she) hithit (it) (it)

G. G. mmīīn ðn ðīīn his hiere n his hiere his his

D. D. mmēē ð ðēē him hiere him hiere him him

A. A. mmēē (m (mēċēċ) ð) ðēē (ð (ðēċēċ) hine h) hine hīīe e hit hit

Dual N. Dual N. wit wit ġġitit G. G. uncer inceruncer incer

D. D. unc incunc inc A. A. unc incunc incPlural N. Plural N. wwēē ġēġē h hīīee G. G. ūūser (ser (ūūre) re) ēēower hieraower hiera D. D. ūūs s ēēow himow him A. A. ūūs (s (ūūsisiċċ) ) ēēow (ow (ēēowiowiċ)ċ) h hīīee

(Baugh, & Cable, 2002, p. (Baugh, & Cable, 2002, p. 59)59)

(Pyles, & Algeo, 1992, p. 117-118) (Pyles, & Algeo, 1992, p. 117-118) (Bloomfield, & Newmark, 1965, p. 160-163) (Bloomfield, & Newmark, 1965, p. 160-163)

(Robertson, 1934, p. 121-127) (Robertson, 1934, p. 121-127)

• What was it?What was it? The raising of long vowels one The raising of long vowels one

half step phonetically.half step phonetically.

• When did it happen?When did it happen? Between late 1400-1650, Between late 1400-1650,

completed in most areas by 1700.completed in most areas by 1700.

• Why did it happen?Why did it happen? No one knows for sure.No one knows for sure.

(Stevick, 1968, p. 102-114)(Stevick, 1968, p. 102-114)(Baugh, 1951, p. 287-289)(Baugh, 1951, p. 287-289)

( Mugglestone, 2006, p. 154-147)( Mugglestone, 2006, p. 154-147)(http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/great-vowel-shift)(http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/great-vowel-shift)

(http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/gvs_chart2.html)(http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/gvs_chart2.html)

The Great Vowel ShiftThe Great Vowel Shift

Purpose of my surveyPurpose of my survey

• Which irregularities cause the most difficulties for ESL Which irregularities cause the most difficulties for ESL students?students?

Grammatical Grammatical Semantics Semantics SyntaxSyntax PhonologyPhonology PunctuationPunctuation OrthographyOrthography

• Which difficulties are particular to the nationality of ESL Which difficulties are particular to the nationality of ESL students?students?

• Use of –s with 3Use of –s with 3rdrd person person• Use of verbal tensesUse of verbal tenses• Use of pronounsUse of pronouns• Use of interpersonal phrasesUse of interpersonal phrases• Use of affixesUse of affixes• Use of comparative and superlativesUse of comparative and superlatives• Use of prepositionsUse of prepositions• Use of possessivesUse of possessives• Use of noun endings with –sUse of noun endings with –s

MethodologyMethodologyGrammaticalGrammatical

MethodologyMethodologySemanticsSemantics

• Use of the verb “to be”Use of the verb “to be”• Use of parts of speechUse of parts of speech• Use of homonyms Use of homonyms fairfair - - fairfair – – fairfair• Use of homophones Use of homophones citecite – – sitesite – – sightsight• Use of wordsUse of words• Use of idiomsUse of idioms• Use of false cognatesUse of false cognates• Use of ordinal numbers on datesUse of ordinal numbers on dates

MethodologyMethodology

1. What irregularities of the English language do your students struggle 1. What irregularities of the English language do your students struggle with the most to learn or master?with the most to learn or master?

2. Considering the language distance, what kind of grammatical, 2. Considering the language distance, what kind of grammatical, semantics, syntactical, phonological and orthographical difficulties semantics, syntactical, phonological and orthographical difficulties have your students from different nationalities?have your students from different nationalities?

3. The historical background of what English exceptions or3. The historical background of what English exceptions or irregularities would you like to consider important or relevantirregularities would you like to consider important or relevant to be included in this ESL guide?to be included in this ESL guide?

4. What kind of exercises should this guide focus on?4. What kind of exercises should this guide focus on?

MethodologyMethodology

Instrument: Instrument: Survey Survey

Individuals: Individuals: Certified ESL teachersCertified ESL teachers

Number of individuals: Number of individuals: Thirty Thirty

Location: Location: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NCCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC

Time to startTime to start: Fall 2008: Fall 2008

Data will be analyzedData will be analyzed

By categoriesBy categories: Grammatical, semantics, syntactical, : Grammatical, semantics, syntactical, phonological, punctuation and orthographical.phonological, punctuation and orthographical.

By nationalitiesBy nationalities: Examples of difficulties will by : Examples of difficulties will by grouped by ethnic groups.grouped by ethnic groups.

Thank Thank you! you!

References References

• Baker, P. S. (2003). 10 Adverbs, Conjunctions and Prepositions. Retrieved from Baker, P. S. (2003). 10 Adverbs, Conjunctions and Prepositions. Retrieved from http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/resources/IOE/advconprep.htmhttp://www.wmich.edu/medieval/resources/IOE/advconprep.htm

• Baugh, A., & Cable, T. (2002). Baugh, A., & Cable, T. (2002). A history of the English language A history of the English language (5th edition). New Jersey: (5th edition). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.Pearson Education, Inc.

• Bloomfield, M. W. & Newmark, L. (1965). Bloomfield, M. W. & Newmark, L. (1965). A linguistic introduction to the history of EnglishA linguistic introduction to the history of English . New . New York: Alfred A. Knopf. York: Alfred A. Knopf.

• Bragg, M. (2003). Bragg, M. (2003). The adventure of English: the biography of a language. The adventure of English: the biography of a language. New York: Arcade New York: Arcade Publishing.Publishing.

• Emerson, O. F. (2005). Emerson, O. F. (2005). The history of the English language.The history of the English language. New York: Macmillan Company. New York: Macmillan Company.

• Freeborn, D. (1998). Freeborn, D. (1998). From old English to standard EnglishFrom old English to standard English (2nd edition). Great Britain: MacMillan (2nd edition). Great Britain: MacMillan Press Ltd.Press Ltd.

• InternationalInternational Language CentreLanguage Centre Language Link. (n.d.).Language Link. (n.d.). TEFL training programmes TEFL training programmes . Retrieved May . Retrieved May 10, 2008, from 10, 2008, from www.jobs.languagelink.ru/TEFL/programmes.phpwww.jobs.languagelink.ru/TEFL/programmes.php

• Krapp, G. P. (1927). Krapp, G. P. (1927). The knowledge of English.The knowledge of English. New York: Henry Holt and Company. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

• Kip Wheeler, L. (2008, June). Kip Wheeler, L. (2008, June). Chart showing the actual great vowel shift.Chart showing the actual great vowel shift. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/gvs_chart2.htmlhttp://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/gvs_chart2.html

ReferencesReferences

• Mugglestone, L. (2006). Mugglestone, L. (2006). The Oxford history of EnglishThe Oxford history of English. Great Britain: Oxford . Great Britain: Oxford University Press.University Press.

• Peters, R. A. (1968). Peters, R. A. (1968). A linguistic history of EnglishA linguistic history of English . Boston: Western Washington . Boston: Western Washington State College.State College.

• Pyles, T. (1964). Pyles, T. (1964). The origins and development of the English languageThe origins and development of the English language . New York: . New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.

• Pyles, T., & Algeo, J. (1993). Pyles, T., & Algeo, J. (1993). The origins and development of the English language The origins and development of the English language (4th (4th edition). Texas: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.edition). Texas: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.

• Robertson, (1934). Robertson, (1934). The development of modern EnglishThe development of modern English . New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc.. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

• Stevick, (1968). Stevick, (1968). English and its historyEnglish and its history. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc. . Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc.

• Twaddell, W. F. (1962, May). Does the foreign-language teacher have to teach grammar?Twaddell, W. F. (1962, May). Does the foreign-language teacher have to teach grammar? PMLA, PMLA, 7777(2), 18-22. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/(2), 18-22. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/

sici?sici=00308129(196205)77%3A2%3C18%3ADTFTHT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y

• The Spiritus Temporis Web Ring Community. (n.d.). Great vowel shift. Retrieved June 28, The Spiritus Temporis Web Ring Community. (n.d.). Great vowel shift. Retrieved June 28, 2008, from http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/great-vowel-shift/2008, from http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/great-vowel-shift/