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Language and Thought
n
30
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/23/2012

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Term
What is human language?
Definition
an open and symbolic communication system that has rules, grammar, and allows its users to express abstract and distanct ideas
Term
Language in other species:
Definition
doesn't have future/past tense and only can com whats in current/present moments
Term
How are words organized?
Definition
syntax and grammar rules
Term
Evolution of Human Language-
Definition
early homnid species had protolanguage or "prelanguage"
Complexity of human brain and ability to use language might have co-evolved
Term
Language development is:
Definition
very predictable bc a 3 year old brain is 80% the size of an adults
Term
In language which abilities do we develop first? Example. What is responsiple for this in the brian>
Definition
Ability to understand words develops before ability to produce words. Babies can point to their nose before they say nose.
-Broccas Areas is the ability to produce speach.
-Weirnecke's Area is language comprehension and is likely to develop before Broccas
Term
Language development is in which hemisphere?
Definition
left
Term
What are the stages of language development?
Definition
cooing
babbling
one-word utterances
two-word utterances
sentence phase
Term
What is cooing?
Definition
first sounds humans make (other than cries)
consists mostly of vowles
occurs during first 6 months
Term
What is babbling?
Definition
sounds made a s a result of the infants experimentation with a complex range of phonemes
"dadada, bababa"
Starts 5-6 months
Makes more sounds than exist in language (plasticity: sponge brains- babies hear a lot more sounds)
Term
What are one word utterances?
Definition
single words, "mama and dada" "no"
occurs around 12 months
children tend to acquire words from the ends of sentences first, meaning english speakers pick up nouns first (bc they're at the end of sentence) wheras a japanese baby will pick up verbs first (at the end of their sentences)
Term
What are two word utterances?
Definition
phases children put together
18 months
Term
What is the sentence phase?
Definition
begin speaking in fully gramatical sentences
2.5-3 yrs
Term
What is the sensitvitity periord.
Definition
if child isn't exposed to any human lang before a certain agem their abilities never fully develop
1-12
Associated w. period of neural pruning and wiring
Evidence comes from case studies ofthose who suffered severe neglect and lacked exposure
Term
Example of the sensitivity periord?
Definition
Genie, 2yrs old classified as mild retarded. Dad chained her up to chair and crib, beat her when she tried to speak. When she was 12 her mom ran away with her and she was put into foster care, she was never able to acquire language
Term
What are the theories of language development?
Definition
1. Sociocultural theories
2. Conditionand Learning theory
3. Nativist view of Language
Term
All language theories have:
Definition
nature and nurture components combined, just different amounts
Term
What is the sociocultural theories?
Definition
language learned from ppl around us.
many different types of environmental influences (culture, social status, peers, birth order)
Heavy reliance on imitation of family members. (Social learning theory-skinner)
Child detected speech- adults alter their speech to be on childs level "baby talk"
Term
What is conditioning learning theory>
Definition
From BF skinner 1957
Idea that language is like any other behavior and exists bc it is reinforced and shaped.
Term
limitations to conditioning learning theory?
Definition
little reinforcement occurs consistently for syntax and grammar rules
(we dont correct grammar but its still learned)
Term
What is the nativist view of language?
Definition
rooted in nature, guided through nurture
Idea that we discover language rather than learn it. It is inborn. It is the easiest way to learn somthing. Learned so fast by kids it have to be native.
Term
What is the component of the natvist veiw of lang theory?
Definition
language acquision device: an innate biological based capacity to acquire language
from Chomsky
Term
what did chomsky say?
Definition
a single universal grammar underlies all human langauges.
Any child can learn any language with equal ease
Specific langauage have different limits, how we word/say things.
Term
What do scholars agree on about all the theories?
Definition
acquireing language involves natural abilities modified by the language learners environment called innately guided learning
Term
is grammar or vocabulary more innate and genetically based?
Definition
grammar is more genitcally based and innate than vocab.
genetics influence 40% of grammar and only 20% of vocab
Term
Anatomy of human language compared to chimps:
Definition
humans have reduced mouth and arched tongue, enlarged throat, lower voice box.
Term
Chimps can learn sign language and spoken requests example:
Definition
kanzi video, chimp performing tasks
Term
What is the the Whorph-Sapir Hypothesis?
Definition
language creates thought as much as thought creates language
"Lost in translation" when translating things between languages, some don't have words for thiings
Term
What is the linguistic determinism hypothesis?
Definition
the propisition that our language determines our way of thinking and our preception of the world. No words for objects or concepts- we cant think about them.
Term
What is linguistic relativism?
Definition
lang influences thinking but doesnt determine it.
Example: russian distinguishes between light blue and dark blue with seperate color names for each shade, but that doesnt mean we can't distinguish them just bc they dont have seperate names.
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