Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

UNIT 3 : LANGUAGE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

UNIT STRUCTURE

3.1 Learning Objectives

3.2 Introduction
3.3 Language in Education and Curriculum
3.3.1 Significance of Language in Education and Curriculum
3.3.2 Language in Curriculum
3.4 Learning Language and Learning through Language
3.5 Functions of Language
3.5.1 Functions of Language inside the classroom
3.5.2 Functions of Language outside the classroom
3.6 Let Us Sum Up
3.7 Further Readings
3.8 Answers to Check Your Progress
3.9 Model Questions

3.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through this unit you will be able to -

conceptualize the meaning of the term ‘language’, ‘education’ and
‘curriculum’;
explain the language used in education and curriculum;
discuss the significance of language learning and how it is different
from the process of learning through language;
describe the various functions of language, mainly inside the
classroom and outside the classroom.

3.2 INTRODUCTION

As the heading of the unit suggests, there are two key words, viz,
‘Language’ and ‘Curriculum.” Before proceeding ahead, the students should
be made acquainted with the meaning of these two words.
‘Language’ refers to those sounds and written symbols through which
36 Understanding Language and Early Literacy
Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

human communicate. A language is a vehicle to exchange thought, ideas,

views etc. among people or among different communities in different parts
of the world. It is only a language which plays the key role in a teaching-
learning process. We can use language to refer to various means of
communication involving recognizable symbols, non-verbal sounds or
actions. In this present unit, language refers to those set of sounds and
written symbols that are used in communication in education and curriculum.
Now, come to the next term ‘curriculum.’ This term has a close
relation with ‘education’ (in the next section we shall discuss it in detail). It
will be beneficial for the students to know the meaning of ‘education’ to know
the term ‘curriculum’ more clearly.
The term ‘education’ is derived from the Latin words ‘educare’ and
‘educere.’ ‘Educare’ means ‘to nourish’, ‘to bring up’, ‘to rise.’ So, education
means to nourish or bring up the children according to certain aims or ends,
whereas ‘educere’ means ‘to lead out’, ‘to draw out.’ This means educating
a child implies drawing out a child from darkness to light. From the above
two definitions, we can say that education is a system or process to enlighten
the minds and shape the character of the students in a desired direction.
The term ‘curriculum’ is derived from the Latin word ‘currere’ which
means ‘to run’ or ‘race course’ .Thus, curriculum means a runway, a course
which runs to reach a goal. So, curriculum embodies all the experiences
which are utilized by the school or college to attain the aims of education.
So, you have got some ideas on language, education and curriculum.
Now, you can move to the next section with a certain clarity to comprehend
the terms and their interrelationship.

3.3 LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM

In the ‘Introduction’ section, you have already acquired some idea

about language, education and curriculum. In this section, before proceeding
further, we shall briefly discuss the relationship of education and curriculum.
It will help you to go deeper in the text of this section.
We can not discuss education without curriculum and curriculum
without education. Curriculum and education are inseparable. Aims of

Understanding Language and Early Literacy 37

Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

education are realised through the medium of curriculum. Education has

two broad aims, viz, Individual and Social.The Individual aims lay emphasis
on the balanced development of the Individual. Social aims are directed
towrds the development of social qualities in the individual which should
lead to his social efficiency and cultural development. These aims can be
realised by providing the pupils with certain experiences in the form of
knowledge, skill and traits, which constitute the content of curriculum. To a
large extent,this can only be realised and practised through a good amount
of furnished language in formal situations like inside the classroom, in the
laboratory, in library etc.
It will be worth mentioning here that the Secondary Education
Commission (1952-53) has enlarged the area of curriculum by suggesting
that a curriculum should include all the activities inside and outside the
classroom which help the students in learning and developing their mind
and character. Now, curriculum does not mean only the academic subjects
traditionally taught in the school; it includes the totality of experiences that a
pupil receives through the manifold activities that are performed in the school,
in the classroom, library, workshop, playground and in a number of informal
contact between the teachers and the pupils. By keeping in mind the views
propagated by the Commission, we can say that with this present concept
and idea of curriculum and education, the functions and the role of language
in education and curriculum are gradually increasing assuming greater
significance. Let us discuss this more elaborately.

3.3.1 Significance of Language in Education and

Curriculum

Language works as a medium between the learners and

Creole- a language
teachers. Hence, the importance of language in Education and
formed from a
Curriculum is undoubtedly vital. In that sense, language is a tool for
combination of
Europian language learning and an aid to understanding. Generally, before going to
and another school, a child learns to talk and communicate in his/her mother-
laguage. tongue (LM). His/her mother-tongue may be a dialect, or a creole or
even one not in a very standard form. It depends on the environment
38 Understanding Language and Early Literacy
Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

to which the child belongs. But, the language used in an education

system is totally different from those discussed above. In a formal
educational set up, emphasis is given on the use of the standard
form of a language and in the use of a language for educational
purpose the policy-makers or the course designers have to look at
the utility of the language from different angles. Generally, the
standard form of a language, approved by the Government is selected
as the medium of instruction in a course of education. The selected
language may be a regional language, a national language, or an
international language. It depends on the demand, utility and needs
of the students as well as the aims and objectives of the education
system.
Another important point to mention here is that the standard
of the language used in education should match the level of the
standard of the students. If it is mis-matched, all efforts will go in
vain. The language used for the students of higher secondary level
must be different from the language used for the students of class
V.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 1: What kind of language should be incorporated
in an education system? (30 words)
.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................
India is a country where thousands of dialects and language
are used in its different corners. Apart from the mother-tongues of
most of the communities, the country has officially recognised Hindi
as the National language in the form of Hindi and a third language
(L3) or international link language in the form of English. In such a
context, it becomes a complex issue for the educationists and
designers of educatinal courses to choose a common suitable and
useful language for the students from the different communities and
Understanding Language and Early Literacy 39
Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

regions of the country. Now, we are living in the era of globalization

where the world has already turned into a small village due to the
advancement of science and communication. In communication,
English is the only language which is used world-wide. So, we can
not ignore the usefulness of English in our education and curriculum.
At the same time, we can not ignore the importance of the mother-
tongues of the students too.
The language selected for education as a medium should
enable students to acquire knowledge with facility of expression so
that they can communicate with clarity of thinking. From this point
of view the use of mothertongue is most desirable.
However, the importance of Hindi as a national link language.
It is the official language can not be denied. It is the link language
between Union and the people. So,for the students knowledge of
the national language is also important.

3.3.2 Language in Curriculum

Though education and curriculum are not separable, yet, in

practice, the field of curriculum is different to some extent in the use
of language. From our discussion we have already come to know
that curriculum includes all the activities that take place inside and
outside the classroom within the school-campus.
In the context of curriculum language is important for
comprehension and for making use of knowledge. In the process of
exchange of ideas between the teacher and the student, or among
the students language is the chief medium.
In the last 30 years, a number of educationalists have been
emphasizing the vital role of language in a curriculum, i.e., in learning,
particularly the role of verbal communical talk in the classroom and
within the school campus.The teacher talks to his students and vice
versa. Similarly, students also talk among themselves. This is where
language plays its role. Effective learning takes place when there is
a perfact communication between the teacher and the students.
40 Understanding Language and Early Literacy
Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

Any desparity in this respect is seen as a hindrance to learning. The

teacher should talk in a way that can be exploratory and thought
provoking. The effectiveness of the language is totally dependent on
the efficiency and capacity of the teachers in using language in a
particular context. The teacher has to be very careful while
communicating with the students in respect to their age group, mind-
set, the objectivity of that particular talk etc.

CHEEK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 2: How is the language of curriculum different
from that of Education? (30 words)
.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................

3.4 LEARNING LANGUAGE AND LEARNING

THROUGH LANGUAGE

We have already discussed language in the introduction part of this

unit. Language has a very important social purpose, because it is mainly
used for linguistic communication. Before going to school, a child learns to
talk in mother tongue (LM) or in the first language (L1) at home in a normal
environment. A child starts speaking in his/her mother tongue or in the first
language long before going to school. Now, let us briefly discuss mother
tongue,the first language and other languages to know about learning
language as well as how learning takes place through language.
Mother-tongue is that language which is acquired by a child from
his/her parents. Mother tongue is the first language in which a child learns
to speak first. A child learns to use the speech-sounds of his/her mother
tongue by imitating or following the speeches, used by parents or other
family members in a normal environment. The mother-tongue is considered
the first language of a child. In the hierarchy of language learning, a child
first learns to speak in his/her mother tongue. So, it ranks first in that
hierarchy. Hence, it is called the first language of the child. In place of
Understanding Language and Early Literacy 41
Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

‘learning’, the term ‘acquisition’ is more suitable and applicable to define the
learning process of mother-tongue or first language. Learning is a deliberate
or mechanical process. But, the learning of mother-tongue or first language
takes place in a normal environment, where a child acquires the required
skills of using mother-tongue or first language spontaneously. So, it is better
to be called ‘mother tongue or first language acquisition’ rather than ‘mother
tongue or first language learning.’ In the process of acquisition of mother
tongue, a child needs not follow any method or formula of language learning.
But, in learning other languages apart from the mother-tongue or first
language, a deliberate effort is required. Generally, a child begins to learn
other languages apart from the mother-tongue in the school campus itself.
In teaching and learning of other languages, the teachers or language
trainers use some strategies and scientific techniques to train up the students
in that specific language. The approaches and methods used for the purpose
are rather mechanical. In learning a language, say for example English,
different methods or approaches can be used for making the students learn
better. Some of the methods and approaches are:
grammar translation method
direct approach
natural approach
cooperative language learning
communicative language teaching
These methods and approaches are used most frequently in learning
a language. During the twentieth century new methods of language have
proliferated and the process is still going on.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 3: How does the process of learning mother
tongue differ from the process of learning
other languages? (20 words)
.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................

42 Understanding Language and Early Literacy

Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

Q 4: Name three methods or approaches of learning a language.

.....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................
Learning through language:
Learning through language is another process or phenomenon which
is different from learning a language. In the process of learning through
language a language is used as the medium of instruction. In the discussion
of language and education, language is usually defined as a shared set of
verbal codes such as English, Spanish, Hindi etc. But, language can also
be defined as a generic, communicative phenomenon, especially in the
description of instruction.
Teachers and students use both spoken and written language to
communicate with each other to present the tasks, engage in learning
processes, present academic content, assess learning, display knowledge
and skills and to build classroom life. The students learn to read and write
(academic written language) and they learn the discourse of academic
disciplines with the help of a language which is used as the medium of
instruction.
Learning in classroom is primarily accomplished through language.
Teachers deliver lecture, ask questions, orchestrate discussions and assign
reading and writing tasks through language. Students are engaged in
academic tasks through reading, writing, giving verbal answers to teachers’
questions, listening to teachers’ lectures, participating in peer-works or group
discussion, memorizing the written texts etc.; all these take place through a
language, used as a medium of instruction. So, we can say that in ‘learning
through language’, learning takes place with the help of language, where
the language is used as the medium of instruction.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 5: What do you understand by learning through
language?
.....................................................................................................

Understanding Language and Early Literacy 43

Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

3.5 FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Three basic functions :

Language is the chief medium of communication. Without language
we cannot imagine a civilized human society. Language functions in many
different ways but there are three main functions: informaton, expressive
and performative.
(i) Informative: The most familiar function is informative, i.e, it transmits
information from person to person both in oral form or in written form. Let us
look at the following expression.
The teacher says to the students, “Tomorrow is a holiday.”
The Shopkeeper says to the customer, “It takes rupees twenty per piece.”
In both of the above instances the language transmits information
from the speaker to the hearer. And, if the mentioned information is displayed
through notice-board, the language transmits the information in written form.
The language used in Newspapers is mainly informative in nature.
(ii) Expression: Another basic function of language is expressive. Words
can be used to evoke an emotion that is a direct result of their meaning.
Poetry often deals with expressive language.
“In the heart of seed,
Buried, deep, so deep,
A dear little plant
Lay fast asleep.”
(“The little plant” by K.L. Brown)
In the above lines, the language is used expressively. In these verses
of rhythms and sounds, the words are expressive in themselves. The
language used here is so expressive that it evokes emotion in the minds of
readers.
(iii) Performative: The third area of language is ceremonial in nature. Here,
the words are not necessarily either informative or expressive, but
performative, they perform an action in themselves. Look at the following
expression:
“I thank you.”

44 Understanding Language and Early Literacy

Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

“I apologize for that crime.” –

In the above lines, the language of the speakers performs the acts
of ‘thanking’ and ‘apologizing.’ It is a performative use of the language by the
speaker.
Basically, language performs the above discussed three functions,
viz, informative, expressive and performative. There is perhaps nothing more
subtle than language is, and nothing has as many different uses as language
has. Without doubt, identifying just these three basic functions is an over
simplication of the functions of language.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 6: What are the three basic functions of
language?
.....................................................................................................

3.5.1 Functions of Language inside the Classroom

Each of the three basic function of language has a significant

role to play inside the classroom . Inside a classroom, communication
occurs between the teacher and the students. The language used
by teachers and students is mostly formal in a normal classroom
situation. The teacher has to use informative language (to give
information), expressive language (to discuss the text of a literary
work) and performative language (to make the students practice
different modes of communication) inside a classroom. Here, the
functions of language is realised both orally and in written form. In a
teacher-student relationship, we can discuss the functions of
language from two dimensions;(a) from teacher’s point of view (b)
from the learners’ or students’ point of view.
(a) From teacher’s point of view:
From the angle of the teacher, the language functions in different
ways –
It helps the teacher to give information to the students. The
teacher gives information by way of discussing the contents
Understanding Language and Early Literacy 45
Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

of the subject. There are different objectives of teaching such

as helping students in developing their character, making them
familiar with the syllabus and examination procedures and
solving the problems of the students while performing all these
tasks the teacher has to use language.
Language also has a usefull function in making the teacher
understand the mood of the students. He can analyze the
language used by the students and by doing this the mood of
the students can be understood.
Again language is the most useful means for a teacher to
transfer everything to the students what the teacher aims to
teach.
(b) From students’ point of view:
If we look the functions of language from the student’s point
of view, we arrive at the following points.
Students get to know what is being taught through a language.
The teacher imparts knowledge to the students by means of a
verbal communication and on his part a student learns what
he is taught through the language of communication.
In a group discussion or in pair-works, the students have to
discuss and share their ideas and views with fellow students
through a language.
The students have to use language to ask questions to the
teacher to clear their doubts.
Lastly, the students have to sit for examination which is
supposed to test their knowledge.They use language to answer
question and to prove their prficiency in a subject.
One important aspect in this respect is that the contents
and lessons of the prescribed subjects are furnished in written
language. In this context, the function of language inside a classroom
is very significant. Hence, the written language functions as a store
house of knowledge for the students.

46 Understanding Language and Early Literacy

Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 7: How does language work inside a
classroom? (30 words)
.....................................................................................................

3.5.2 Functions of Language outside the Classroom

Outside the classroom, the students face a broader field,

where they need to communicate with different persons in different
situations and environments.Hence, language has been even more
important function outside the classroom in comparison to its
functions inside the classroom. Students must acquire the basic
social language skill outside the class, either through independent
study or by interacting with other speakers. Students have to ask
and answer questions about themselves, about their families and
friends, the food they like, the weather, what they did yesterday and
so on. Naturally language has to operate huge range of functions
outside the classroom.
For example, language is used to tell a story, for making a
speech , to play a part, to imagine, to soothe, to ask, to deceive, to
demonstrate one’s feelings and in endless other ways. So, when it
comes to talking about what language does, you need to be aware
that language actually functions in a variety of ways, each of which
may have slightly different rules of behaviour.
Outside the classroom, the learners or students can
implement what they learn inside the classroom. Inside the
classroom, a student learns how to greet the teacher by using “Good
morning, sir” or “Good evening, madam”; how to take permission by
using “May I come in” etc. A student can also use this knowledge of
greetings outside the classroom by addressing a neighbour
as,“Good morning, uncle.” In this way, a learner learns to use different
words and phrases which are performatory in nature and can be
used outside the classroom. The students learn to congratulate one
Understanding Language and Early Literacy 47
Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

on his/her success by saying “I congratulate you on your success”;

similarly, they use “thank you”, “I welcome you”, “I promise you”, “I
warn you” etc. to express themselves in different contexts outside
the classroom.
The informative functions of language can explicitly be
realised outside the classroom with the presence and availability of
newspapers, journals, magazines etc. By going through them, a
student or a person can acquire information relating to different topics.
Besides,the language functions miscellaneously. For exmple,
in buying a shirt, (“what is the price of that blue shirt?”); in bargaining
the price of onion in the market,(“It is too high, could you not sell it at
a reasonable rate?”);in paying the bus fair to the conductor, (“Please
take it.I shall get off at Chandmari.”); to ask for a cup of tea at the
tea-shop, (“Give me a special cup of tea.”)
There are other uses of language such as to enquire about
railway reservation, to call a doctor, to invite people for marriage
and other functions, or a party at home etc. Thus these hundreds of
ways in which language functions as a medium in our day to day life
and outside the classroom.
We can say that a language, in a sense, defines a society.
Speakers of the same dialect share an immediate sense of
recognition. In addition, the traditions, myths, and religions of every
human society are encoded in their languages. Finally, science itself,
human’s ultimate adoptive too, is based on human language.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 8: What are the roles of language outside the
classroom? (20 words)
.....................................................................................................
....................................................................................................

48 Understanding Language and Early Literacy

Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

3.6 LET US SUM UP

We have acquired some ideas in detail on language in general and

how language works in a society in particular.
Attempts have also been made to familiarize you with the importance
and significance of language in education and curriculum with stress
laid on what is language learning and how it is different from learning
through language.
We have done a detailed discussion on the different functions of
language inside classroom and outside the classroom, and in the
society at large, focus the multiple use of this means of human
communication.

3.7 FURTHER READINGS

1) Bhatia, K.K. (2011).Foundation of Educational Theories and

Principles. New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers,
2) Platt, John T. and Platt, Heidi K.(1975.). The Social Significance of
Speech; Amsterdam North-Holland.
3) Richards, Jack C. and Rodgers, Theodore S.(2007) . Approaches and
methods in Language Teaching (Second edition). U.K.Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.

Understanding Language and Early Literacy 49

Unit 3 Language Across the Curriculum

3.8 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR

PROGRESS

Ans to Q No 1: The standard form of language should be incorporated in an

education system. Besides that the language which is used should
match the level of competency of the students.
Ans to Q No 2: Since education and curriculum are inseparable, it is difficult
to differentiate the language of curriculum from that of education.
Basically, the language of curriculum is used to attain the goals set by
the language of education.
Ans to Q No 3: The learning of mother tongue takes place spontaneously,
while the learning of other languages need deliberate efforts.
Ans to Q No 4: Grammar-translation method
Direct approach
Communicative language teaching
Ans to Q No 5: Learning through language refers to that learning which
requires a language to perform the role of medium of instruction.
Ans to Q No 6: Informative
Expressive and
Performative
Ans to Q No 7: Inside a classroom, language is mainly used to share ideas
between the teacher and the students. Teacher uses language to give
the students knowledge and students use language to earn knowledge.
Ans to Q No 8: Outside the classroom the language has to perform
miscellaneous roles, where most of its roles are informative and
performative in nature.

50 Understanding Language and Early Literacy

Language Across the Curriculum Unit 3

3.9 MODEL QUESTIONS

(A) Very Short Questions

Q 1: What is a language?
Q 2: How do you define curriculum?
Q 3: What do you understand by mother tongue?
Q 4: What is the main function of language?
Q 5: Which is the official language of India?
Q 6: What is ‘acquisition of language?’
Q 7: Name one characteristic feature of mother tongue.
Q 8: What is the role of language in the process of learning through
language?
(B) Short Questions (Answer each question in about 150 words)
Q 1: What is the relation between education and curriculum ?
Q 2: How is language used in curriculum ?
Q 3: Define ‘learning language.’
Q 4: Why is learning of mother tongue different from the learning of other
languages ?
Q 5: Describe briefly the term ‘learning through language’.
Q 6: What are the three basic functions of language ?
(C) Long Questions (Answer each question in about 300-500 words)
Q 1: Discuss the role of language in education and curriculum.
Q 2: ‘In the process of learning through language, a language is used as
the medium of instruction.’ – Explain.
Q 3: What are the three basic functions of language? How can these
functions be realised inside a classroom?
Q 4: Discuss with suitable examples the functions of language outside the
classroom.

*** ***** ***

Understanding Language and Early Literacy 51