The Language Review June Issue Preview

t h e l a n g u a g e r e v i e w Language: A Scientific art academic journal VOLume number Edited by 1 1 Elías Alvarado june José Manuel Hernández 2015 ISSN in progress http://www.thelanguagereview.org/

Table of Contents 3 Introduction We are overjoyed to share with you the inaugural issue of The Language Review, where we take a look at the scientific and artistic elements found in language. 4 From the Editors The Language Review editors share their thought process in the making of this month’s issue, as well as their hopes for the future of the journal. 6 List of Contributors Language: A Scientific Art was made possible by the contributions and support from a wide range of language professionals. 8 The Neuroscience of Learning a Language Professor of Neuropsychology Dr. Andrés González and neurosurgeon Dr. María Elena González explain the physiological changes in the human brain when learning a language. 11 Language Disorders: An Overview Graduate researcher Luisa Fernanda Bohórquez presents an overview of language disorders from a neurological perspective. 14 The Future of English as a Global Language Graduate researcher Mona Syrbe discusses the present state of English as a lingua franca and speculates on its future status as a global language. 17 Illustration as a Vehicle for Expression Illustrator and concept artist Patricia Manríquez explains the role of body language in her field, highlighting the challenges in expressing ideas through non-verbal means. 19 Short Story Writer Carter van Raust and illustrator Patricia Manríquez work together to create Monday’s Child, an illustrated story about a young girl and her relationship with an unlikely character. 23 Prevention is the Best Medicine Anticipating common pitfalls that language learners might encounter is of paramount importance to book publishers. Daniel Altamirano addresses this issue through his experience as editor of Richmond. 25 A Student’s Perspective Kim Jesus González gives us insight into his language-learning process, mentioning some challenges he encountered along the way and how he overcame them. 27 Closing Thoughts Professor of Sociolinguistics Gerard Mugford shares his thoughts on this month’s issue and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork. Copyright © 2015 The Language Review. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced without the written consent of The Language Review.

The Language Review | 3 Introduction The Language Review is an academic journal conceived as a practical lens into the field of linguistics. Its contributors, members of a global language community, bring forth ideas in an attempt to foster dialogue and incite readers to be participants in the ever-expanding frontiers of linguistic understanding. This issue of The Language Review opens a window into the lives of a wide range of careers bound by a common faculty; the scientific art of language. The Language Review exists for the This writing style, known as We are teachers, students, writers, language enthusiast and is put together “academese,” has received much translators, language therapists, with contributions from international criticism in recent years. As professor psychologists, and most importantly, language specialists. It is a monthly Steven Pinker outlines in his article Why we are language lovers who deserve periodical published electronically, Academics Stink at Writing, critics argue access to digestible academic articles. and stems from two beliefs; that that “university presses and journals For our inaugural issue, we decided dissemination of research in the field insist on ponderous language as proof to take a dichotomous glimpse at of linguistics is of interest to profes- of one’s seriousness,” that the world of language and explore what many sionals from neighboring fields, and academia fosters narcissistic writing, inaccurately believe to be opposite that presenting said research in a and that the abstractness of the topics fields; science and art. For this, we digestible manner results in greater discussed in scholarly work require a worked alongside professors, neuropsy- impact and readership. That is not to particular register. Whatever the case chologists, language instructors, artists, say that our publications are watered- may be, The Language Review is here and language students. Our goal is to down versions of scholarly articles, but to cut through the wordiness. Our show how a diverse community can rather that said articles are presented by experts through a more intelligible “Enough already. Our indifference to how we share the lens. fruits of our intellectual labors is a betrayal of our calling Academic papers are written to enhance the spread of knowledge. In writing badly, by experts for experts. A doctoral we are wasting each other’s time, sowing confusion and dissertation, therefore, is written error, and turning our profession into a laughingstock.” with the understanding that a very knowledgeable group will read and Steven Pinker examine it. For this reason, the writer is concerned with writing a document that is marked by exactness rather mission is simple—to present research come together through the unifying than succinctness. This presents no valuable to language professionals force of language, and ultimately, how problem for a room of PhDs during a and enthusiasts in a transparent learning a foreign language entails thesis defense. For an undergraduate way. Through our collaboration with internalizing elements from both fields student writing a research paper or experts, we hope to inspire academics as the learner embarks in a journey the everyday reader interested in the to write more clearly and coherently. that is both scientific and artistic. topic, however, such a document is We are members of a diverse language Are you ready for such a journey? highly inaccessible. community who wish to stay informed. Welcome aboard.

4 | The Language Review From the Editor This issue is the first of many to come. It is the result of the classroom, we attempt to instill in them two basic a collaborative effort that brought together an interna- elements; the curiosity of the scientist so they might tional, multidisciplinary team of language enthusiasts. understand language systematically, and the creativity This is my first step into the world of publishing and I of the poet so they might play with it in new and distinct could not be more proud, more so because this journal’s ways. content resonates with my belief that knowledge is In the world of Leonardo DaVinci, before a meant to be shared. Too often I have encountered, as great iron curtain separated the two fields, there was I’m sure you have, the “selfish intellectual.“ This platform, no divide between science and art. DaVinci himself is however, is meant to encourage just the opposite. With as much an icon of scientific curiosity as a pioneer of The Language Review I hope to lay the foundation for artistic innovation. Over time, however, as we moved a community whose main objective is sharing informa- toward socialization, this division became more defined. tion for the sake of kindling in its readers a desire to As these two schools continued to separate and branch learn and wonder. out in seemingly opposite directions, what we are left Our first issue is titled Language: A Scientific with is the notion that the two cannot coexist. This issue Art and I do hope that its content will be beneficial is an attempt to restore the severed link between these to language specialists and enthusiasts alike. In the two disciplines through the most unifying framework introduction I refer to language as a scientific art. As of social interaction; language. an English teacher, I spend countless hours planning And so with this attitude of fellowship I wish to language lessons. This has allowed me to see both explore language on seemingly dissimilar stages. I invite the systematic and the expressive elements found in you, dear reader, to redefine science and art with me, to language. I therefore argue that to be a language learner see something ordinary through an extraordinary lens, is to be a scientist and an artist. No one can argue the and to become part of an integrative community. In this scientific tenure of modern linguistics, nor the artistic issue, you will meet language scientists and language value of literature, but are language learners not a little artists. I hope you benefit from their collective experi- of both? Perhaps students can’t endeavor in compara- ences and expertise which transcend disciplines. tive linguistics or write a heart-rending sonnet, but in “With The Language Review I hope to lay the foundation for a community whose main objective is sharing information for the sake of kindling in its readers a desire to learn and wonder.” Elias Alvarado Editor-in-Chief