Language Flashcards
How has language evolved?
. involves processing at levels of: phonology, lexicon, grammar, concepts
. evolved from visual auditory system
. All cultures have spoken language but NOT all have written language
What are phonemes?
. smallest but meaningful units of language that attaches to words
. most basic units of sound
. can have different spectral properties depending on the context
When and how are phonemes formed?
When: formed during infancy
How: shaped by linguistic environment
Why is it that when a child is more than 4 months of age, they are unable to distinguish minute differences of phonemes?
. auditory system is tuned to phonemes
Why is it easy to learn language at an early age?
. children are exposed to multiple representations of phonemes
What is a lexicon?
What is the significance of a lexical boundary?
. lexicon = mental dictionary of stored knowledge about words & their meanings
. lexical boundary = determine presence of words
True or false. Some languages have grammar.
False. All languages have grammar
What is the significance of language & speech evolution?
. for effective communication & transmission of information between species
What affects speech perception?
. auditory & visual information (recall the McGurk effect)
What is prosody and what is its significance?
. tells us that speech can convey emotion
. emotional content & intonation = important form meaning
. dependent on right hemisphere (decoding & production)
. lesion of right hemisphere = poor at forming correct intonation
. EX: sarcasm
What are the differences between syntax & semantics?
. syntax = grammar = arrangement of words & phrases to create sentences in a language
. semantics = meaning
What are the differences between content words & function words
. content words = new words that can be added to the language dictionary (EX: nouns, verbs, adjectives)
. words that help us to form a picture in our head
. function words = words that are difficult to add to the language dictionary (EX: articles, conjunctions, prepositions)
. convey grammatical relationships between words in sentences
. have little lexical meaning or ambiguous meaning
True or false. Sentences can be semantically incorrect but grammatically correct.
True.
What is recursion?
. repeatedly embedded sentence structure within a sentence structure (EX: re-reread)
. can be grammatically correct as grammar allows for recursion
Do babies require explicit instruction to learn language?
. NO. Babies learn language through environmental exposure of language
. will learn to pick up native-language but over-regularize the words (EX: mouses, goed)
Will one still be able to learn language and become fluent after childhood?
. Yes. However, there will be difficulty as one will have an accent to a language
What happens to the development of language if child is raised in extreme deprivation?
. will be unable to acquire normal language
Are non human primates able to create language?
. No. they form associations of words with symbols between elements in environment & hand movements
. are unable to make new syntax (grammar) = unable to express emotions & thoughts & produce new words
How do trainers attempt to teach non human primates language?
. non human primates are taught language through sign language due to lack of vocal tract complexity
. training involves giving rewards in order to produce a language
. non human primates will use language only to respond to the trainers
Who is the patient Leborgne & what is its significance?
. suffered from syphilitic brain degeneration
. showed inability to utter words other than ‘tan’ (demonstrates impairment of language production)
. had severe damage to left frontal lobe in posterior region of inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area)
. saw damage to white matter tracts (affected to the cortical & subcortical involvement)
Who is the patient Lelong and what is its significance?
. aphasic patient
What are the characteristics of Broca’s Aphasia?
. involvement with language production
. syntax (grammar) is impaired but semantics (meaning) is intact
. unable to produce & understand syntax
. see slow halting speech
. able to produce content words but NOT function words
. referred to as non-fluent or production aphasia
. damage of posterior left frontal lobe
What is phonemic paraphasia?
. inability to say words correctly
. a type of Broca’s Aphasia
What is production aphasia?
. shows trouble with fluency of speech (getting the words out)
