Re: [VERY OT ;] Introducing linguistics to middle school students (~14 yro)

Richard Owlett wrote:
> Linguistics is not a formal topic of this group. But, many seem to have
> an interest in it. I got 'bitten by the bug' as I had one high school
> teacher who could (and did) read Beowulf in something close to the
> original and one whose master's degree was in Indo-European.
>
> I'm mentoring/tutoring a bright under performing 14 yro boy. The current
> focus is reading practice. Currently using _The Lion, The Witch, and The
> Wardrobe_ by C.S. Lewis (a *very* British author). As he is of the
> Ozarks (sw Missouri), I attempted to explain idiom(s). He picked up on
> possible relationship of "idiom" to "idiot". That got me into attempting
> to explain/define linguistics in < 15 minutes ;]
>
> I know that I could Google for a(ny) particular linguistic point.
>
> HOWEVER, I'm looking for resources (WEB or printed) that might intrigue
> him to go further.
>
> OK,so I *AM* a lifelong bachelor in over his head ;}
>
> Side note to Jerry Avins -- yes the same kid :)

How about teaching him Latin? :-) It would give him a peek "under the
hood" in how languages work and would certainly sharpen his English
skills as a consequence -- both moreso than studying, say, French or
Spanish would (at least for English speakers). The study of Latin is
also chock-full of technical details (the kind that this kid would
probably eat up) that simultaneously help one to understand why Latin
is dead and demonstrate why its precision made it the language of
choice for philosophers, scholars, and scientists for so long after it
had died.

Cheers! --M

.

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