Publisher's Synopsis
A modern language is any human language that is currently in use. The term is used in language education to distinguish between languages which are used for day-to-day communication and dead classical languages such as Latin, Sanskrit, and Classical Chinese, which are studied for their cultural or linguistic value. The text Modern Languages and the World of Today: Theory and Interpretations discusses ways of developing creativity in the modern languages through the use of drama, creative writing and role play. First chapter discusses the constraints faced by most of the Malaysian indigenous languages. Online e-learning application for practicing foreign language skills with native speakers has been presented in second chapter. Third chapter addresses the situation of minority languages in major tourist destinations through the study of their linguistic landscape (LL) as a valuable source of data. A framework for studying languages in contact has been outlined in fourth chapter. Fifth chapter presents the results of an enquiry into the perceptions of foreign native speakers who choose to train in England to become teachers of modern foreign languages. The purpose of sixth chapter is to review studies regarding acquisition of English as a second or foreign language by students of different linguistic backgrounds, in light of the English language's opaque alphabetic orthography. Seventh chapter describes a new automated dating method, based on phonotactic diversity. Eighth chapter discusses how morals depend on language. The purpose of ninth chapter is to evaluate the validity of the European language portfolio (ELP) as a means for fostering self-regulated learners using an embedded mixed methods design. Tenth chapter presents a linguistic ethnographic study of a Panjabi complementary school in Birmingham, UK. Eleventh chapter investigates the acquisition of specialized vocabulary from L1 and L2 textbook reading by 64 Slovak high school students who are intermediate or advanced users of English. Twelfth chapter traces the economic origins of contemporary globalization and the deep communication effects that arise. Last chapter outlines the benefits and the potential pitfalls that computer mediation presents for the learning of foreign languages and cultures.
