ADLA107 Linguistics for Literacy

This unit has a specific focus on the nature and development of language. Theoretical frameworks of language will be explored with an emphasis on socio-cultural and functional approaches to language. Preservice early childhood and primary educators will undertake an in-depth study of the structure of language, in particular the relationship between oral and written language. Their studies will also focus on the interdependent relationship between context, meaning and grammar incorporating the notion of context as culture, discourse and situation. Through the materials used in the unit, preservice early childhood and primary educators will experience this learning by means of an explicit engagement with the social and ethical dimensions of differing language contexts, and though practical applications to spoken and written language texts such as audio and visual multimodal texts, transcripts, literary, information, and media resources. Theories of language learning in early childhood from 05 years will be examined and provide a basis for understanding of pre-school language development and the interdependence of language and emergent literacy. This unit will develop in preservice early childhood and primary educators skills of communication that reflect an understanding of self and others in the learning environment together with a respect for the richness of social and cultural diversity.