Lexis (Metalanguage) - Spainwise TEFL

Lexis: Metalanguage

Metalanguage is the terminology that teachers and learners use to talk about the English language, learning and teaching. You have already seen some metalanguage in the previous tasks. The words ‘verb’, ‘noun’ and ‘adjective’ for instance are all examples of common classroom metalanguage – they are all words that we use to describe other words. It is essential for EFL teachers to be familiar with a range of metalanguage.

Why is metalanguage an important part of teaching and learning a language?

• Knowing metalanguage makes it easier to explain language and how language is used.
• It can help us to categorise and compartmentalise the mechanics of language and how it works so that it may be learnt more easily.
• The ability to talk about language can help our linguistic knowledge and awareness.
• Metalanguage appears in most coursebooks and course materials.
• Many students expect metalanguage to be used. They most probably have used it in their previous English learning experience and are comfortable with using it. Failure to use metalanguage might even point towards the teacher’s lack of expertise.

Task 9

Choose the correct metalanguage term from the drop-down menus to complete these definitions:

1. A phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts is ... *

2. A text where some words have been replaced with blanks to be completed is ... *

3. A word ending in "-ing" that is made from a verb and used like a noun is ... *

4. A word or phrase that describes how much or how many of something is ... *

5. A word that describes a verb is ... *

6. A word that describes or modifies a noun is ... *

7. A word that says how often something happens is ... *

8. A word with the same spelling/sound as another word but a different meaning is ... *

9. A word that means the opposite of another word is ... *

10. A word that means the same as another word is ... *

11. A word used before a noun or pronoun to show place, time or direction is ... *

12. A word used to join words, phrases, clauses or sentences is ... *

13. An individual unique sound and the smallest unit of speech is ... *

14. The force or loudness that we put on a syllable or a word is called ... *

15. The form of a verb which shows what time is being talked about is ... *

16. The person or thing that performs the action of a verb and comes before the verb is ... *

17. The punctuation mark which indicates contraction or possession is ... *

18. To get learners to provide a response rather than telling them the answer is ... *

19. When two or more words are commonly used together, this is called ... *

20. What we hope learners will achieve/be able to do at the end of the lesson/task is ... *

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Lexis: Metalanguage

Task 9

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