2nd Exam Flashcards
Pidgin language
Simple version of language often lacking grammatical structure and tenses.
Children do not just copy pidgin of parents, create new language with specific grammatical rules.
Creole language
More structured form of the original pidgin with universal structure.
Suggests language is created in the brain by a set of biologically determined rules.
Phonology
Combination of sounds
Morphology
The study of the smallest units of meaning
Syntax
The structure of sentence of phrase and rules that govern it.
Semantics
The study of meaning in a language
Surface structure
The actual spoken word, with its grammatical structure
Deep structure
The meaning of the speech
Triggered when hearing language and allow surface structure to be passed.
Language is not “tabla rasa” your adding to a general logic.
Chomsky
Saw language as an emergent property of brain complexity, not as an adaptation.
Suggested that all humans have a universal grammar
Language acquisition device.
Language is a bi-product of having the mind we have.
Pinker
Saw language as an evolutionary adaptation “instinct”.
Language assisted us in some way in our past.
Skinner
Children learn appropriate grammatical rules via reinforcement.
General learning mechanisms
Receptive language
Being able to understand language.
Comes before productive language.
Located in Wernicke’s Area - Left temporal lobe
Productive language
Located in Brocas Area- Frontal Lobe
Responsible for language/speech
10-12 months : First words
18-24 months: Increase in # of words.
Whole object assumption & Gavagai problem
New items learned are assumed to be whole objects.
Taxonomic assumption
Children will think categorically instead of thematically when given a novel label
Mutual exclusivity assumption
Children are averse to having the same word for the same object. They learn second labels slower than first and assume it belongs to another object.
