Conlang in school: invented language and knowledge of linguistics

• Grant number: 24/06160-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Dirceu Cleber Conde
• Grantee: Dirceu Cleber Conde
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Eduardo Cardoso Martins ; Liliane De Queiroz Antonio ; Pablo Arantes ; Renato Miguel Basso
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/07185-3 - Conlang at school: strategies for dissemination and engagement with the Invented Language Workshop, BP.TT; 24/18061-0 - Method for conlang: research, production and application, BP.TT; 24/15205-1 - Research and production of a teaching method for conlang applied to linguistic education, BP.TT

Abstract

The present project aims to develop a method for utilizing the activity of constructing artificial languages (conlangs) based on speakers' intuitions. The method will target students in the middle school education (6th and 7th grades in Brazil). Such initiative, as attested by researchers on other occasions (Adger; van Urk, 2020; Girardi, 2020; Punske; Sanders; Fountain, 2020; Sanders, 2016), can promote speakers' metalinguistic knowledge skills about their mother language and the understanding of various aspects of natural language working. Another benefit produced by this method is the promotion of scientific thinking about language through the formulation and testing of hypotheses. We assume that promotion already proven benefits from the perspective of "active learning" (Maia, 2019; Martins, 2022; Pilati, 2017). Finally, all efforts aim to bring complementary and enriching activities to the school environment for the students' development on competencies and skills in a grounded, practical, and accessible manner for basic education. Teachers who can benefit from that kind of experience. (AU)