Exam 1 Flashcards
Language
One of many cognitive abilities made possible by our minds
What does it mean when we say the mind is structured?
They mean each cognitive ability works in a very specific way
What is structure?
It is a constraint and limitation
What is the language faculty
Way of referring to all of the cognitive abilities abilities that give rise to language in humans. But more specifically it is a set of abilities that allow us to convert from physical signals like sound or visual signs to thoughts!
During comprehension…
The language faculty turns speech sounds (or signs in sign language) into complex meanings
During productions..
The language faculty turns complex meanings into motor commands for the vocal tract or hands in sign language
Phoneme
The smallest segment of speech that leads to a meaningful difference between words
Cognitive test for phonemes
If the changed sound leads to a different word, then the two sounds are both distinct phonemes in the language! (Rake lake, l and r are different phonemes )
What’s the problem with the alphabet?
There is no one to one relationship between symbols (letters) and phonemes
Sound
Is a wave that travels through the air. This means that a sound wave is a disturbance in air pressure
Sound waves
Are longitudinal waves meaning the oscillation moves in the same direction as the disturbance
Waves in the ocean
Are transverse waves, meaning the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the disturbance is moving
Properties of waves
Amplitude and frequency
Amplitude
Measure of force applied to an area of air during compression. It’s effect is change in loudness
Frequency
Measure of number of compression cycles that a wave completed in a given unit of time. Effect is change in pitch
Do amplitude and frequency affect phonemes?
No
Two components to your voice
Vocal folds and vocal tract
Vocal tract
Acts as a filter to the sound created by your vocal folds. The shape of your oral cavity and pharynx directly affect the properties of the sound
Vocal folds
Are the source of your sound
The mind
A set of cognitive abilities, perception memory language emotions free will decision making etc
Fundamental frequency
The lowest frequency generated by a sound source. For your voice this is the basic pitch that you hear
Harmonics
The additional frequencies that are created by the source. There is one harmonic at each integer multiple of the F0.
Property of your voice: frequencies
Your vocal folds create a large set of frequencies simultaneously
Filtering by your vocal tract
The shape of your vocal tract changes the amplitude of the frequencies created by your vocal folds.