Ch. 8.2 - Properties Of Language

Question 1

language

Answer 1

form of communication that involves spoken, written or gestural symbols that are combined in a rule-based form

Question 2

unique features of language (4)

Answer 2

• semanticity
• productivity
• displacement
• socially learned

Question 3

phonemes (2)

Answer 3

• most basic unit of speech sounds

- vocal tract capable of 200 different phonemes

Question 4

morphemes (2)

Answer 4

• smallest meaningful units of a language

- productivity

Question 5

semantics (2)

Answer 5

• study of how people come to understand the meaning from words
• dyslexia

Question 6

syntax

Answer 6

rules for combining words and morphemes into meaningful phrases and sentences

Question 7

pragmatics (3)

Answer 7

• study of non linguistic elements of language use
• contextual effects (prior knowledge, environment, tone of voice)
• informal rules of language (social assumptions)

Question 8

aphasias

Answer 8

language disorders caused by damage to the brain structures that support using and understanding language

Question 9

Wernicke’s area (2)

Answer 9

• area of brain most associated with finding the meaning of words
• aphasia: speaking in sentences that lack meaning

Question 10

Broca’s area (2)

Answer 10

• controls our ability to articulate speech sounds that compose words
• aphasia: can still understand speech but cant speak fluently

Question 11

sounds perception (3)

Answer 11

• newborns distinguish function and content words, then come to prefer the content words by 6 months
• infants as young as 2 months show a preference for speech sounds over non-speech sounds
• 3 month olds initially capable if distinguishing all 200 phonemes, but lose this ability around 10 months

Question 12

fast-mapping (4)

Answer 12

• ability to map words onto concepts after a single exposure
• naming explosion
• receptive vocab larger than productive vocab
• over generalization, over extension, and under extension errors

Question 13

naming explosion

Answer 13

rapid increase in vocab size that occurs around 20-24 months

Question 14

sensitive period (4)

Answer 14

• time during childhood during which children’s brains are primed to develop language skills
• ability fades starting 7th year
• same with sign language
• language acquisition

Question 15

costs of being bilingual (2)

Answer 15

• smaller vocab

- word access diminished in adulthood compared to unilingual adults

Question 16

benefits of being bilingual (2)

Answer 16

• executive functions improved

- potential health benefits