Discuss with a partner and brain storm ideas about:
1. What is language 2. What is its purpose?
Feedback to the class you ideas.
Now list the different types of communication.
3. How do the following features distinguish language from non-language?
Language is rule-governed
Language is intended
Language is creative and open-ended
2. When is communication not language?
In groups you will be given scenarios to act out with no verbal communication.
You now need to swap and will get a more complex scenario.
You should find that there are limitations in how you can communicate just through gesture and that some complex concepts require additional forms of communication to be able to pass on knowledge and understanding.You should now be aware that language is a complex process and can be used in a variety of ways.
3. How creative and open-ended can you be with language?
Fry and Laurie skit
4. Can you use persuasive language to sell your idea to the Dragon’s Den?
You will need to design a ‘best-selling Christmas toy’, describe it, justify your decisions and convince the ‘Dragons’ of its viability.
To do this you will need to communicate effectively, present your ideas, be persuasive and able to interact with your peers and the Dragon’s.
Some financial projection is needed – for, as well as pleasing the nation’s children, the entrepreneurs must be able to make a profit; hence you have to have an idea about production costs, selling price and profit margins.
You will have to call on a range of Key skills, including creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, organisation,timekeeping, presentation, persuasion, discussion and evaluation.
But most importantly you will need to use communication and language to succeed in the key skills outlined above.
How are you going to communicate your idea and sell it to the Dragons?
TASKS: 1. Determine roles in your group 2. Establish the aim of the task / brain storm ideas 3. Research and communicate your findings 4. Plan and design your idea 5. Organize the pitch to the Dragons
All these tasks require the use of language in some form. As you work through the tasks try to identify the different forms of language you use as an individual and as a group. The Dragon’s will be looking at your use of language and how you communicate the idea.
5. The problem of meaning
Read the following passage, attributed to Judy Lanier, which is called 'The Montillation of Traxoline', and the answer the questions below.
- Discuss with a partner and brain storm ideas about:
1. What is language2. What is its purpose?
- Feedback to the class you ideas.
- Now list the different types of communication.
3. How do the following features distinguish language from non-language?2. When is communication not language?
3. How creative and open-ended can you be with language?
4. Can you use persuasive language to sell your idea to the Dragon’s Den?
TASKS:
1. Determine roles in your group
2. Establish the aim of the task / brain storm ideas
3. Research and communicate your findings
4. Plan and design your idea
5. Organize the pitch to the Dragons
5. The problem of meaning