Spoken Language and Mathematics

Abstract

Teachers and learners use spoken language in the three part mathematics lesson advocated by the National Numeracy Strategy (NNS). This document recognises the importance of language by emphasising 'the correct use of mathematical vocabulary' in the raising of standards. Research into the use of vocabulary in science suggests that the use of scientific words does not necessarily demonstrate conceptual understanding. Pupils and teachers appear to ascribe different meanings to scientific words because of their relative positions on the novice/expert continuum. To explore whether mathematical words could cause similar problems, data collected from six groups of teachers and learners was subjected to discourse analysis to provide evidence of how spoken language was used and how meaning and understanding were achieved. The implications of the findings on the use of language by both teachers and learners in the NNS mathematics lesson, including vital areas for reflection by teachers, are fully considered.