The document discusses several common myths about language and learning. It addresses the myths that children learn languages effortlessly, that some languages are inherently more difficult than others, and that bilingual people speak both of their languages perfectly. The document uses examples and studies to show that language learning requires significant time and effort for both children and adults, that what makes a language difficult depends on various factors, and that bilingual speakers typically have differing levels of proficiency in their two languages.

1. training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk 7 Common Myths about Language and Learning Dominik Luke š Dyslexia Action [email_address]

3. MYTH 1 Children learn languages quickly and effortlessly training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

6. Language in the crib training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk “ What color -- What color blanket -- What color mop -- What color glass ... Not the yellow blanket --- The white ... It't not black -- It's yellow ... Not yellow -- Red ... Put on a blanker -- White blanket -- And yellow blanket -- Where's yellow blanket ... Yellow light ... There is the light -- Where is the light -- Here is the light.” “ Big and little -- Little Bobby -- Little Nancy -- Big Nancy” “ Anthony take the -- Take the book ... This is the -- This is the -- Book... That's a -- That's a -- That's a kitty -- That a Fifi here ... Mommy get some --- Mommy get some -- Soap.” Weir, 1962, Language in the crib

10. MYTH 2 Some languages are more difficult than others training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

11. English is an easy language… training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk … to learn badly.

12. Czech is not a difficult language… training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk … it’s just hard to learn it.

15. MYTH 3 We need to speak correctly and clearly in order to avoid misunderstandings (Language is the ideal tool for communication) training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

17. training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk go 1 verb ( goes , went , gone , going ) usually intr 1 ( often go about or by or down , etc ) to walk, move or travel in the direction specified. 2 to lead or extend • a path that goes across the field • The road goes all the way to the farm . 3 ( usually go to somewhere ) to visit or attend it, once or regularly • go to the cinema • go to school . 4 a to leave or move away; b ( only as exclamation) said by someone signalling the start of a race: begin the race! 5 to be destroyed or taken away; to disappear • The old door had to go • The peaceful atmosphere has gone . 6 to proceed or fare • The scheme is going well . 7 to be used up • All his money went on drink . 8 to be given or sold for a stated amount • went for £20 . 9 to leave or set out for a stated purpose • go for a ride • go on holiday • gone fishing . 10 tr & intr to perform (an action) or produce (a sound) • go like this • go bang . 11 colloq to break, break down, or fail • The old TV finally went • His eyes have gone . 12 to work or be in working order • get it going . 13 to become; to pass into a certain condition • go mad . 14 to belong; to be placed correctly • Where does this go? 15 to fit, or be contained • My foot won't go into the shoe • Four into three won't go . 16 to be or continue in a certain state • go hungry . 17 said of time: to pass. 18 said of a story or tune: to run • How does it go? 19 ( often go for someone or something ) to apply to them; to be valid or accepted for them • The same goes for you • In this office, anything goes . 20 colloq to carry authority • What she says goes . 21 ( often go with something ) said of colours, etc: to match or blend. 22 to subject oneself • go to much trouble . 23 to adopt a specified system • go metric . 24 tr to bet (a specified amount), especially at cards • went five pounds . 25 colloq to be in general, for the purpose of comparison • As girls go, she's quite naughty . 26 to exist or be on offer • the best offer going at the moment . 27 very colloq to say • She goes, 'No, you didn't!' and I goes, 'Oh, yes I did!' . noun ( plural goes ) 1 a turn or spell • It's my go . 2 energy; liveliness • She lacks go . 3 colloq busy activity • It's all go . 4 colloq a success • make a go of it . be going on for something colloq to be approaching (a specified age) • She's going on for 60 . from the word go from the very beginning. give it a go colloq to make an attempt at something. go all out for something to make a great effort to obtain or achieve it. go and ... to be so unwise or unfortunate as to ... • They've gone and got lost . go great guns see under gun . go it alone colloq to manage or try to manage without help, especially when in difficulties. go native to assimilate oneself to an alien culture or to the way of life of a foreign country. go slow to work slowly so as to encourage an employer to negotiate or meet a demand. See also go-slow . have a go colloq to try; to make an attempt. have a go at someone to attack them verbally. have something going for one colloq to have it as an attribute or advantage • You have a lot going for you . I could go something very colloq I would like it; I could do with it; I need it • I could really go a pint of cold beer . no go colloq not possible. on the go colloq busily active. to be going on with colloq for the moment • enough to be going on with . Polysemy from the word ‘Go’

22. MYTH 4 Children need to go to school in order to learn to speak English properly training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

29. From sigla to text-speak Etc. & e.g. # vs. CU L8 LOL B4 training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

31. MYTH 5 Knowing the grammar of your own language will make it easier to learn other languages training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

38. MYTH 6 Bilingual people speak two languages perfectly training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

40. … but to learn enough to read Der Spiegel might take years. training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk You can learn enough German to read Kant in a summer… Milan Machovec, Czech philosopher

44. MYTH 7 Chomsky’s linguistic theories are of great importance to language teaching training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

45. What do you associate with Chomsky? training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk