Language Flashcards
Language at the computational level.
Language is a tool for:
communication
structuring thought
Properties of language an thought (3)
Productivity
Regularity
Novelty
Aspects of language
Syntax
Semantics
Phonology
Pragmatics
Syntax
How words combine to make syntax
Semantics
Meaning of words and sentences
Phonology
sounds structures of sentences
Pragmatics
practical/communicative aspects of language
Syntax is _______ to grammar learned in school
not the same as
Syntax is ________, not __________
descriptive; prescriptive
Similar surface structures and different deep structures can lead to
Syntactic Ambiguity
Transient ambiguity
Sentence is ambiguous as you read, but makes sense when all information gathered
Evidence for phrase structure
Pauses in speech
Repeat entire phrase after speech error
Spoonerisms tend to occur in a phrase
Pauses in speech reflect…
meaningful units
Spoonerisms
sound substitution
Semantic ambiguity
Ambiguity due to meaning of words
Phonological ambiguity
Ambiguity due to sound
Lessons from McGurk Effect
Visual and auditory cues influence phoneme perception
Why use color to study language and thought?
Color is a perceptually continuous dimension, but English separates them into specific fewer names. When is a color blue or green?
Color and language test
Show one chip and then test in multiple choice. Higher rate of error if choices closer in color spectrum.
Problem: Cannot equate memory with language!
Online language test
actually using language in context during a task
Test by using verbal interference to know if language rehearsal online
Result: At 0, no difference in RT with linguistic categories. Positive means RT difference is better
