Understanding the mechanics of a language

[soozoky]

Would it be wise to study the mechanics of a language before the functioning. Would it allow you to learn the language quicker vs the contemporary method (what's taught in schools)?

[EllieMae]

I would say that it depends on your goals for learning the language--whether for reading/research where a strong foundation in mechanics would enable you to parse through a text, or for actual speaking/communication in which mechanics is actually a bit less vital than communicative skills. 

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I think this is a linguistics (the science of language) question. There are different theories, but I think what you're referring to is known as metalinguistic knowledge/awareness. First languages are learned naturally, unconsciously and implicitly. You don't have to know the "mechanics" of a language to learn a first language. In other words, you don't have to know the formal definitions of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or the correct times and places to use certain grammatical forms, etc. There is debate about whether explicit knowledge (knowledge about language) is useful in learning a second language. Theoretically, you could use your knowledge of your first language to compare to the new language. You can say to yourself, " In English the subject precedes the predicate, but in this language it seems to be the other way around." Or perhaps, "In English we use a helping verb for this particular tense, but this language just conjugates the ending." I don't know if it will help you when learning a new language, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of the metalinguistics of language. At the very least it can be fun to be able to compare and contrast languages.