Language Flashcards
What are semantic networks?
- Network of unitary nodes and labelled links between them
- Can assign properties to them
- Good for hierarchies
What’s the problem with defining words?
- To make an exact definition we need necessary and sufficient conditions, the usual approach to sharp definitions
- But this isn’t as easy for all words that don’t have a sufficient and necessary definition
What is semantic memory?
The knowledge of the world
Is it first word meaning then world knowledge or are they integrated at the same time ?
It’s been proven that we integrate both by a dutch study on trains
What is the Neuroanatomy of language?
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
Both in the left of the brain
What is Broca’s aphasia?
Damages language production
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
Damages language comprehension
The speech they produce is meaningless
What is the challenge in processing language?
- Meaning integration
- You need multiple words or sentences together to come up with true meaning (not just one word)
What is the challenge in processing language when it comes to priming?
priming = (where the words are placed) creates new meanings
What is synaptic comprehension?
- Once we hear one thing the first time your brain activates but the second time it does not as much (less work on brain as its been primed)
- once something is repeated there’s a suppression the second time
Which brain regions underlie synaptic comprehension?
These places are = Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area and some on the rights side
What are Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area doing?
So you have all semantic network areas
- All of Wernicke’s area is more memory retrieval
(single words and retrieve those single words and info from them) e.g the word woman
- Broca’s area is more the way we out the words together (word integration)
