Learning English Grammar : Content Words and Function Words.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you do my dear readers? I really hope that you could gain something from my writings here on my blog.

Now, for this entry I am going to write something more grammatical. Meaning, I am going to explain on English grammar. Correct me if I'm wrong, yes dear?

I will be explaining on Content Words and Function Words. These two are quite easy to understand and it is not that hard to actually apply the concept. Now, language make an important distinction between two kinds of words - content words and function words. Content words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. These kind of words denote concepts such as objects, actions, attributes and ideas. Content words are also known as Open Class, meaning, we could use the words alone to perform a meaningful sentence.

For example, we take a content word, noun type. Chicken. We know the meaning of the word 'chicken'. We can easily pointed out at these chicken and yelled 'Chicken!!', right? The words that said must be aligned with the real situation. Got that right?

Now, lets move to Function Words. As we read function words, we could get the insight meaning of the type of words already. Words that need to make the sentence functioning. So, it immediately related to grammar, English grammar. The words types such in prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, determiner are called function words and it is also known as Closed Class. Closed Class which used as words to perform a complete sentence. 

For example, let say a person said, 'A' without any referential to another person. It must created something that could make people misunderstood, right? So, what if that person said something like this, "A cat eat a mouse". Here, there are a few function words that could be extracted from that sentence, such as, "A and a" "Cat, Eat and Mouse" are Content Words. So, that makes sense right?

So, you understand now to differentiate between these two? It would be very much useful if you want to make tree diagram to extract sentences. Okay?

That is all for now.Thank you lovelies and,

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Keep reading, okay?

Learn what you really want to learn.

Assalamualaikum wbt,

How do you do village people!! *almost like Faizdickieup already. hahaha..

Now, people said, 

"You have to speak the language, to actually speak the language".

Tricky? yes, it could be very tricky, why? because, we learned languages and not all could have the opportunity to actually speak the language. How many of you excel in English language but not be able to communicate entirely, meaning with good grammar? How many? well, for those who are in the city, they usually have the opportunity to communicate using English language, but not for those who live in village or kampong. Why? not all could speak the English language.

Even though, some of us excel in English language at any levels in examination, UPSR, SPM, STPM or University level, still, the point of view when people want to speak or communicate using English language is very low. Meaning, they tend to say the people want to upgrade themselves by using English language are 'ungrateful', by saying, they said that those people forget the fact that they have their own mother tongues which they speak that before. Hows that?

The truth is, not everyone is like that. Some are very positive about the changes and they really want to upgrade themselves. That is all. 

My advice, learn what you really want, and at least, you have your own satisfaction by learning it. No regrets.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I too learned a few things that I really love. Lovely. 

Learning English Language Through Songs.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

People frequently asked me this question...

"What would be fastest way and the easiest way to learn and understand English language?"

Oh, dear, to be honest, there is no the fastest way or the easiest way to learn and understand English language, darling. But what I can say it, we Malaysians have the softest tongue to learn any languages, and in this case, its English. Yes, we do. Do not ask me why, because I do no know. This was told to me by my lecturer when I studying at UNISZA. A lovely university I could say dear. Lovely university, lovely people, lovely surroundings. I really love it.

Well, what I can say it, if you are a person who loves listening to musics, then start looking for English musics and also look for its lyrics. I found that very amusing because, you can enjoy the music and you can learn its lyrics, annnddd, you can understand the lyrics. You have to make sure that the song that you want to hear must have good English and if you could, avoid lyrics that have vulgar words in it.

If I were you, I would go back to 50's, 60's, 70', 80', and 90's musics where we could find great lyrics and good musics. I too would look to Whitney Houstons' songs, Michael Jackson, Queen, The Foreigner, these people created good song and lyrics. And you could gamble a little bit, you may search Avenged Sevenfold where they too have great music and most rock musics have very-very good emotional lyrics. Look for it. Okay?

This is one of the great lyrics in music world.

"Greatest Love Of All"

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody's searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me

[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

[Chorus]

And if, by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

You can study the lyrics and you can lots of things here. Grammar, verbs, nouns and whatnot. Okay?

Keep learning, even signboards could be our teachers. Yes.

Thank you.

Assalamualaikum wbt,

p/s: Do not forget to learn.

English Language : Language and Brain Development.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Happy Friday people and do not forget the perform Solat Jumaat, okay?

Okay now, I am going to write on Language and Brain Development.

Language and brain are actually intimately connected. This is because without the pure understanding of language we cannot communicate. Some people said Signs is not a language, but what is actually the purpose of language? To communicate, right? That is the main purpose of us having languages. Therefore, to think that brain does not have any connection with language is quite impossible. 

Now, The Critical Period.

A child is introduced to language virtually at the moment of birth. BUT, as we all know, baby was in mummy's tummy for how long? 9 month 10 days *normally, so, in that period of time, the baby was already exposed to language uttered by the mother or people around the mother, so? it  is not specifically from the moment of birth but hey, my claim is not proper because I do not have any research to actually back up my opinion. I should do research? Haha,

Now, according to linguists, there is a Critical-Age Hypothesis that determined the language that will be picked up by the baby. It is also assume that language is biologically based and states that the ability to learn a native language develops within fixed period, from birth to middle childhood.

Then, somehow, there were cases that babies were abandoned by their parents or I do not know, abandoned, left out or kidnapped or whatever, but these cases somehow created stir because it against the HUMAN nature. Why? The critical-age period. The language learning period is somehow interrupted. Amala and Kamala were found in India, reportedly reared by wolves (1920). In 1970, Genie who reportedly been confined in small room and unable to interact with society from age eighteen months to almost fourteen years. None of these children were able to speak, communicate with human. So? Do language innate? That is the question. 

To me, language ability is in our mind but we need to nurture the language. Yes, its nature but nurturing is important. Otherwise, we cannot acquire language. Therefore, for those who happened to have children, siblings who are still babies, please, keep teaching them language that you would prefer them to use. If its English language, then keep talking to them in English, then they will pick up that language along with other language that you used in your daily conversation with your spouse. Let say, your mother tongue is Bahasa Melayu then your second language is English language, but you want your children to share the same ability in communicate in both language, so, keep both language with same balance in communicating with them. Do be shy, just speak. 

By the way, different people surely have different abilities to learn language. Like us Malaysians, not many have the ability to learn English language and be able to talk like those Britishs or Americans, but it is not possible. We can learn. Regardless what those English linguists have to say about the learning, it is actually up to you to learn. If you want it, no one could say NO, right?

So, keep learning. Everyone is learning one thing a day. So, why not?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Yes, I am going to keep writing too. Lovelies.

Learning English Grammar : Punctuation

Assalamualaikum wbt,

As you all know, Punctuation in any languages is very important, because it could bring a very big meaning to anything that we wrote or said. Therefore, having punctuation in certain sentences would create proper sentences. 

What is Punctuation?

According to Wikipedia, punctuation means "the use of spacing, conventional signs, and certain typographical devices as aids to the understanding and correct reading, both silently and aloud, of handwritten and printed texts." Punctuation just does not mean Commas, it has a lot more. You may click on the given link to find more on punctuation.

Students usually have this feeling of omitting punctuation mark, I do not know whether they do not know where to put punctuation mark or they just need to write it fastly. *whatever they were writing about.

Let m give you a few examples,

1. my friend Mary lives in kuala lumpur.

2. He is reading the straits times.

So, could you find what is wrong with these sentences? 

1. 'my' should be 'My'.

2. 'kuala lumpur' should be 'Kuala Lumpur'

3. There should be commas in the sentence after the word 'friend' and 'Mary'.

So, could you elaborate more on the second sentence? Yes, I really think you could do it.

There are lots of punctuation marks, such as comma, full-stop, question mark, exclamation mark and many more. You just need to know how to use these punctuation, welll, it just add colour to your writings. Yes.

That is all from me. Thank you.

Assalamualaikum wbt

p/s: will post more on English grammar.

Im back!!!

Assalamualaikum WBT,

It has been a while since my last entry, two months? I dont really know or remember... hahah, sorry. Deeply. 

Well, I do have lots to be written actually but then time and ideas sometimes did not let me write what I want to write.. yes. Now, since I got back from Kuala Lumpur, *im in my hometown, Raub now friends! I could focus back on giving  few great, useful writing. Why? Because I really want to help others by reading my little blog. Yes, I really hope I could help other people with this blog. Yes.

So, who wants to take this ride one more time? I am so sorry for that one month *or two, which I did not write things that really useful for you all. Yes, sometimes, I feel really bored and I want to get away from those academic writings and such, but I guessed you cannot astray from academic when you want to help someone write? *got the joke there? hahaha.. write...

Yes, academias do jokes, sometimes. hahaha.. *well, obviously, I am trying to be one with what I have got in me...

Sometimes, people do not realise how blog, micro blogging, internet could do to other people. My writings might not be read by people here in Malaysia, but when they search something related to my topic, it will come out eventually. In this blog, I am trying my very best to tackle on English grammar by explaining it in the easiest way. Yes, sometimes my English was not that perfect, but at least I am trying my very best to give something to you right? rather then typing something 'unuseful', right? haha.. 'unuseful' is not a word, but you understood it right? Yes, its called, Newspeak. You might look for it on the internet. Yes.

Whatever it is, I am will look for more info to be put here on this blog and I try my best to cover everything from Standard One to University English Grammar, which I think its all the same. Yes...

So, that is all from me. I will see you soon, tomorrow perhaps?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Miss you all.