Volume 3,Issue 8
A Study on the Social Nature of Language in English Teaching at the Basic Education Stage: Insights from Gao Mingkai's "An Introduction to the Study of Language"
Based on Gao Mingkai’s “An Introduction to the Study of Language,” this paper explores how the social nature of language informs English teaching in basic education. Focusing on Gao’s core ideas—the social conception of language, linguistic function, and the unity of language and thought—it argues that language arises from social interaction and serves human cognition. Using literature analysis and classroom observation, it identifies problems such as excessive attention to form and neglect of communicative and cognitive functions, then proposes improvements. The study shows that Gao’s theory redefines English learning through authentic contexts and the interplay between language and thought, providing a basis for communicative teaching and creative thinking.
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