LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 1 January 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Role of English Literature and Local Literature in English
for Learning English as L2: A Comparative Study

Muhammad Saleem, M.Phil. in Linguistics

Abstract

This study critically investigates the role that a text of English literature plays, in comparison with the local literary text in English, in the learning of English as a second language. To provide data for this research, two literary texts are selected and targeted: ‘Araby’ by James Joyce and ‘The New Constitution’ by Sadat Hassan Manto, a Pakistani short story writer. This analysis is based upon the perceptions and prescriptions of Piaget’s world known schema theory which reads that to comprehend and understand a social product fully, the langue (mental lexicon of a speech community) and socialization in the relevant culture are necessary. The analysis is conducted on the lexical, idiomatic, phrasal, clausal and the discourse levels.

Teaching and learning English as a second language through literary text is always considered an important phenomenon in Pakistan and the subcontinent. In that context, this research is very useful because we may be able to identify which of the two literary texts is more effective for the non-native learners like Pakistanis in learning English.

Key Words: Schema Theory, Role of Local Literature in English, Learning English as L2.

Introduction

Saussure’s contribution towards modernization of linguistics led to the emergence of so many new theories in the field of language studies which not only introduced far-reaching developments in the discipline concerned but also expanded the discipline to come in close contact with several areas. His concept of langue stands for the presence of a collective mental lexicon of a speech community from which its speakers acquire the linguistic material to produce utterances called parole. This mechanism of language system embedded in the conscious of the speakers enables them to communicate with each other and understand the social and cultural products of a population.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Muhammad Saleem, M.Phil.
Assistant Professor of English
Government Postgraduate College Sheikhupura
Pakistan
zaryabsaleem@gmail.com
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