Oxford Applied Linguistics

Language Play, Language Learning

Guy Cook

prize graphic icon Winner of the Kenneth W Mildenberger Prize
Shortlisted for the Ben Warren Prize

This book demonstrates the extent and importance of language play in human life and draws out the implications for applied linguistics and language teaching. It stresses how language play is central to human thought and culture, learning, creativity, and intellectual development.

This book demonstrates the extent and importance of language play in human life and draws out the implications for applied linguistics and language teaching. It stresses how language play is central to human thought and culture, learning, creativity, and intellectual development.

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Part of... Oxford Applied Linguistics

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The core foundations of applied linguistics have long been located in exploring language as it is used in the world and in finding solutions to language-based problems. Modern applied linguistics is interdisciplinary and wide-ranging, being informed by research spanning psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, education, corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, and other areas of the cognitive, learning, and information sciences.

The goal of the OUP Applied Linguistics Series is to influence the quality of language education through publishing and disseminating relevant scholarship and research.

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Tab 1

This book demonstrates the extent and importance of language play in human life and draws out the implications for applied linguistics and language teaching. It stresses how language play is central to human thought and culture, learning, creativity, and intellectual development.

Tab 2

Acknowledgements
Introduction: Not only for children

PART ONE: The interlocking levels


1 The forms of language play: rhythm and repetition in children's verse

2 The meanings of language play: imaginary worlds

3 The uses of language play: competition and collaboration

PART TWO: Theories and explanations


4 The nature of play: evolutionary and cultural perspectives

5 The play of nature: randomness and creativity

PART THREE: Language learning


6 Current orthodoxies in language teaching

7 Future prospects for language teaching

Bibliography
Index

Tab 3

  • 'This far-ranging study demonstrates immense erudition in its sweep of scientific, cultural, and pedagogical theory, and points the way to linking opposing notions of language acquisition. Cook's work moves the profession away from a language learning centred on myopically practical, quotidian tasks and provides us with the much needed bridge between the disciplines of the traditional liberal arts and those of the behavioral sciences - a bridge that in turn facilitates a greater understanding of the second language acquisition process.' - Kenneth W Mildenberger Award Committee

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