This document discusses the nature and structure of language. It covers the main components of language including listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing. It identifies causes of non-readers in the Philippines such as lack of parental involvement, inappropriate teaching materials/techniques, and poverty. The core building blocks of language are defined as phonemes, morphemes, phrases and sentences. Syntax, creative/dynamic properties, and meaning are also examined. The purposes of language teaching in the Philippines are outlined, and the constitution's provisions around Filipino and English are summarized, along with DepEd's plan to use 12 major dialects as the medium of instruction starting in 2012.

1. THE NATURE, GOALS, AND
CONTENT OF THE LANGUAGE
SUBJECT AREAS
Reference: Principles of Teaching 2
(Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph. D.)

2. Language Arts
1. Listening 2. Speaking
3. Reading 4. Writing
5. Viewing

3. Causes of Non-Readers in the
Philippines
 Less parental involvement in the child’s
learning
 Inappropriate materials/techniques used
by the teachers
 Unbalance teacher-pupil ratio inside the
classroom
 Extreme poverty
 Ineffective public school due to the
lacking of funds for learning facilities and
materials
 Unpreparedness for the students to learn

4. The Structure of Language
LANGUAGE
“system of symbols and rules that is
used for meaningful communication”

5. THE NATURE AND
STRUCTURE OF
LANGUAGE

6. Criteria of a system of communication must
meet in order to be considered a language
 A language uses symbols, which are
sounds, gestures, or written characters
that represent objects, actions, events,
and ideas.
 A language is meaningful and therefore
can be understood by other users of that
language.
 A language is generative, which means
that symbols of a language can be
combined to produce an infinite number
of messages.
 A language has rules that govern how
symbols can be arranged.
(Source: http://www-psych.nmsu.edu/rjem/courses/cognitive/anderson//.html)

7. The Building Blocks of
Language
Sentences
Phrases
Morphemes
Phonemes

8. 1.Phonemes
 They are the smallest distinguishable
units in a language.
 They are the representation of the sound
 Phonology – study of phonemes

9. 2. Morphemes
 Smallest meaningful units in a language
and usually whole words or meaningful
parts of words such as prefixes, suffixes
and word stems.
 Morphology – study of words

10. Syntax
 System of rules that governs how
words can be meaningfully arranged
to form phrases and sentences
 Ex. (Rule)
◦ “the” must come before a noun, not after
 “Read the book” NOT “Read book the”

11. Properties of Human
Language
 Creative and Dynamic
tapsilog SCUBA

12.  Structured

13.  Meaningful

14.  Referential

15.  Interpersonal

16. Purposes of Language
Teaching
 To teach the students how to
communicate effectively.
 Help students develop communicative
and academic competencies
 To develop not only the cognitive and
academic competencies but also the
to develop the cultural enrichment and
aesthetic appreciation for both English
and Filipino.

17. What does the Philippine Constitution say about the use of
English and Filipino as means of communication in the country
 ARTICLE XIV
EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ARTS,
CULTURE AND SPORTS
LANGUAGE
Section 6. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be
further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.
Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government
shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official
communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.
Section 7. For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the
Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.
The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve
as auxiliary media of instruction therein.
Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.
Section 8. This Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be
translated into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish.
Section 9. The Congress shall establish a national language commission composed of
representatives of various regions and disciplines which shall undertake, coordinate, and
promote researches for the development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and
other languages.

18. Pronouncement of the Department of Education
regarding the use of English as a medium of
instruction

19. DepEd to use 12 dialects as medium of
instruction starting June 2012
 TEACHERS will be using 12 major local dialects as medium of
instruction when classes open in June as part of the department's
thrust to implement the mother tongue-based multi-lingual education
(MTB-MLE).
Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the 12 dialects are Tagalog,
Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Iloko, Bikol, Hiligaynon, Cebuano,
Waray, Tausug, Maguindanoan, Maranao and Chabacano.
"We are institutionalizing the teaching of MTB-MLE as one of the
subjects from Grade 1 to Grade 3 and as the medium of instruction
from Kinder to Grade 3 so that we can develop well-rounded and life-long
learners under the K to 12 basic education reform program,"
Luistro said.
The department cited local and internationals studies showing that
using the language used at home (mother tongue) inside the classroom
during the learners' early years of schooling produce better and faster
learners who can easily adapt to learn a second (Filipino) and third
language (English).
Based on DepEd Order 16, series 2012, the MTB-MLE will be

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