Linguistic and Cultural Gaps in Foreign Language Teaching
Subject Area
Foreign Language Pedagogy
Abstract
Abstract
In foreign language teaching, learners are faced with linguistic and cultural gaps between their mother tongue and the target/ foreign language. These linguistic and cultural gaps, also called lacunas, usually cause misunderstanding, lead to miscommunication and sometimes even cause frustration. Instances of such lacunas, common in foreign language teaching and learning, include culture specific words, non-lexicalized concepts, semantically complex concepts, connotative words, idioms and fixed expressions, as well as paralinguistic features. Their presence partly emanates from one’s mother tongue and culture and partly from the foreign language and its cultural concepts. The task of this paper is to explain, analyze, and offer solutions, emphasizing linguistic awareness (the process of understanding) and cultural awareness (the ability to look outside of ourselves and appreciate the values of other culture), as first steps that can be used by teachers as well as learners to avoid miscommunication and cross-cultural misunderstanding. Other classroom strategies will be discussed and suggested.
Brief Bio Note
Dr. Abdeljalil Naoui-Khir, PhD in Linguistics. Ex-head of the Department of English at Sais University, Fez- Morocco, Formerly Visiting Professor and Associate Professor at VMI, VA. Currently working at UNG and coordinator of Arabic in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages.
Keywords
Cultural awareness, Cultural gaps, Lacunas, Miscommunication
Location
Room 217
Presentation Year
2015
Start Date
3-26-2015 4:30 PM
End Date
3-26-2015 5:45 PM
Embargo
5-23-2017
Recommended Citation
Naoui-Khir, Abdeljalil, "Linguistic and Cultural Gaps in Foreign Language Teaching" (2015). South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL). 79.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/seccll/2015/2015/79
Linguistic and Cultural Gaps in Foreign Language Teaching
Room 217
Abstract
In foreign language teaching, learners are faced with linguistic and cultural gaps between their mother tongue and the target/ foreign language. These linguistic and cultural gaps, also called lacunas, usually cause misunderstanding, lead to miscommunication and sometimes even cause frustration. Instances of such lacunas, common in foreign language teaching and learning, include culture specific words, non-lexicalized concepts, semantically complex concepts, connotative words, idioms and fixed expressions, as well as paralinguistic features. Their presence partly emanates from one’s mother tongue and culture and partly from the foreign language and its cultural concepts. The task of this paper is to explain, analyze, and offer solutions, emphasizing linguistic awareness (the process of understanding) and cultural awareness (the ability to look outside of ourselves and appreciate the values of other culture), as first steps that can be used by teachers as well as learners to avoid miscommunication and cross-cultural misunderstanding. Other classroom strategies will be discussed and suggested.
