This request is not intended to deter the ATEG from its Scope and Sequence 
study, which I encourage and endorse. This information could be part of that 
project.

I'm interested in definitions and relationships. These are important issues 
for me because I need to see the big picture in order to tell my students 
where each particular lesson fits in the communication picture and how 
knowing these kinds of things-clauses and phrases, parallel structure, for 
example-will help them with their writing and speaking.



The question: What are the PARTS OF SPEECH or WORD CLASSES? And where in the 
hierarchy of language terminology do they fit?



I suggest that teachers/linguists begin with a big picture, probably with 
communication as the main heading and language and nonverbal as subheadings. 
What will the components of language be?  When I did this, I got four: 
sounds, syntax, words and forms. (The context in which these are 
used-pragmatics-can be a fifth, of course.) Where in this scheme do 
 "classes" or "parts of speech" fit? Define "parts of speech" or "word 
class." Next, where in the language or parts of speech/class configuration 
will you put grammar?

Rules of the game: This assignment, should you choose to participate, must 
be done without the aid of outside sources. No texts or reference books 
allowed.

            Teachers must use their accumulated knowledge and information 
but should not try to replicate a text that they have used. Rather, they 
should try to produce a section of text that they would be comfortable using 
for their students and one which they would be comfortable comparing with 
fellow teachers in order to produce a system-wide text. So that when placed 
end to end the texts would form a sequential curriculum of accurate and 
useful in language, grammar and rhetoric for an entire school system.

            Those who wish to share with the ATEG list should post them. 
Those who wish to send me their responses will send them to 
[log in to unmask] I will post a summary of the results, if any, by the 
middle of August.

    Thank you for this opportunity. Dick

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