Chapter 8 Thought and language

Question 1

Thinking

Answer 1

means representing mental representations for a purpose. People think using words, mental images and mental models.

Question 2

Concept

Answer 2

A mental representation of a category; that is an internal portrait of a class of objects, ideas or events that share common properties. Many concepts are not easily defined by a precise set of features

Question 3

Categorisation

Answer 3

The process of identifying an object as an instance of a category - recognizing its similarity to some objects and dissimilar to others.

Question 4

Reasoning

Answer 4

refers to the process by which people generate and evaluate arguments and beliefs.

Question 5

Decision making

Answer 5

Is the process by which people weigh the pros and cons of different alternatives in order to make a choice.

Question 6

Language

Answer 6

Is a system of symbols, sounds, meanings and rules for their combination that constitutes the primary mode of communication between human beings. Thought and language shape one another but to some extent are separate.

Question 7

Pragmatics of language

Answer 7

interested in the way language is used and understood in everyday life.

Question 8

Language Acquisition device

Answer 8

It is thought that the human brain includes a language acquisition device, an innate set of neural structures for accruing language.

Question 9

Language development

Answer 9

Cross culturally children go through similar stages of language. Beginning with babbling in the first year and then producing one word utterances towards the beginning of the second year. young children use telegraphic speech, that is omitting all but essential words. By age 4, children’s sentences largely conform to the grammar of their language. Precise timing and course of individual language development depends on both nature and nurture.