Mohammad Halili

Affective filter is one of the IPM (Information Processing Model) elements proposed by Stephen Krashen. The input hypothesis proposed by him include five features: acquisition-learning, natural order, monitor, comprehensible input, and affective filter. This writing is, however, mainly focused on the affective filter point.  My students, who are studying English as a second language, inspired me to recall this point and I see the importance of introducing this idea to them. One of their questions was concerned about the language learning barrier, or the contributing factors to why language learning does not take place. It is understandable since the language learning assessment was done as their self-reflection to their language learning achievement. When I asked them "How good you are at listening, speaking, reading, and writing". Their responses indeed vary. One is good at listening, reading, writing, and speaking. But none of them claimed that they are competent in those f...

The notion of lexical variation refers to vocabulary variation within a language. Once the language is used in different regional boundaries, each region may have its own variation to express the same thing with different words. Studies have shown lexical variations apply to languages. One of the Javanese studies conducted in Bojonegor regency, East Java shows lexical variations. Three regions such as Kanor, Baureno, and Gondang sub-districts use the same lexical unit for Bottle. In those regions, their speakers have the same word for Bottle: Botol. However, the speakers from Tambakrejo use Gendul. Another example is Bathroom. In three sub-districts, Kanor, Baureno, and Gondang, they use Jedding to refer to that gloss. However, people in Tambakrejo sub-distric use Kiwan.  Other examples can be taken from Madurese language which encompasses four regencies: Bangkalan, Sampang, Pamekasan, and Sumenep. The people from those regencies basically speak the same language. However, lexical ...

Male and female are suggested to have different brain structures. How their brains work is significantly influenced by the connectivity of the brain itself, so-called connectome maps. In general, typical male brain connections run between the front and back parts of the same brain hemisphere, either in left or right hemisphere. On the one hand, many more neural connections for female go from side to side across the left and right hemisphere of the brain. The following image illustrates the distinctions between male and female brain structures ( man and female's brain structures images - Bing images - Search Images ) What can we suggest from that finding in pertaining to language use among both sexes then? That difference leads to difference in the way how male and female use language. Male, with that brain structure, tends to focus on one particular issue and something logic. It can be illustrated by the fact that when a male meets his male friend, the issue that would be likely to...

Anomia is a term to describe a difficult situation to find the correct or relevant word. Dealing with the situation, the speakers tend to express it by describing the object or talking about their purposes. In Indonesian context, most of the speakers replace it by using 'ANU' to refer to various context. This is what I called a universal language. Interestingly, this is so ubiquitous especially in Indonesian context.  ANU is not ANU for Australian National University, or Anti-Narcotic Units. This is unclear where this word comes from. To my mind, that is a clipping processing in Bahasa Indonesia word formation. This seems exaggerated but sounds logical. The idea of clipping refers to the shortening words, or make a word become shorter. This is to create a new word by shortening the original words. For example, Perpustakaan (Library) become Perpus. Gramedia becomes Gramed. Some syllables, especially the last ones, are cut down. In English, we can see Doc for Document, lab for la...