English as she is learnt

Abstract

How we come to learn to speak a language remains a mystery. Yet every normally‐constituted human being does acquire the skill instinctively as a bird learns to build a nest. It is an inborn mechanism thet unfolds as we grow from babyhood through adolescence to adulthood. Unlike nest building, however, the skill has to be developed by continuous learning and practice to which there is no end. The quality of a child's knowledge of its native language is dependent on the richness of family life. Good upbringing contributes powerfully to the instinctive unfolding process, and constant daily practice is necessary if the language is to be soundly based.

Citation

Baker, E. (1977), "English as she is learnt", Education + Training, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 90-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb016490