The Need of Sound Knowledge in Linguistics

The Need of Sound Knowledge in Linguistics Especially Phonology and Morphology for Primary School ESL Teachers

Sound knowledge in linguistics especially phonology and morphology are crucial especially to the primary school ESL teachers in order to teach children the correct usage of English language. Thus, in this writing we would like to discuss why teachers need the sound of knowledge in linguistics particularly phonology and morphology in order to be effective primary school ESL teachers.

One of the sound knowledge in linguistics is phonology. According to Fromkin, Rodman and Hyams (2007), phonology is the study of sound system of language; the component of grammar that includes the inventory of sound that are phonetics and phonemics units and rules for their combination and pronunciation. Thus, phonology is crucial for teachers as they are role models in producing the correct pronunciation of the language. For most children, English is the second language and there are possibilities that they might get influence from their mother tongue in producing the second language. Some learners might replace sounds from their mother tongue such as the sound of /ð/ as in ‘that’ to the sound of /d/ as they feel that it is difficult to produce the language according to English pronunciation. Hence, the sound knowledge in phonology would assist the teachers to teach the pupils to produce the exact way of language. Moreover, the teachers should be aware of the pupils’ mother tongue so that they would detect how it influences the second language. When the teachers are able to identify how the mother tongue influences in producing the correct manner of English language, they would know accurate way to teach the second language and the pupils would acquire it in easier way.

Besides, the teachers need the sound knowledge of phonology in terms of the manner and place of articulation as well as voicing in order to teach the pupils according to the order of acquisition...