Language

Question 1

Organisation of Language

Answer 1

Sentence - sequences of words that express meaning
Phrase - a sequence of two or more words that act as a unit in a sentence
Word - a unit of language that functions as the principle carrier of meaning
Morpheme - smallest language unit that carries meaning
Phoneme - basic categories of sound used to convey language

Question 2

Phonology

Answer 2

The study of sounds used to convey language. Place of articulation (where sound is produced), manner of production (where air is restricted) and voicing (vocal cords).

Question 3

Coarticulation

Answer 3

The production of each phoneme varies according the preceding and following sounds.

Question 4

Phonemic Restoration Effect

Answer 4

Supplement input with prior knowledge (hear a phoneme that is removed).

Question 5

Syntax

Answer 5

Rules that specify correct sequences and help define relationships between words (eg phrase structure).

Question 6

Speech Perception

Answer 6

Two methods:
Seek a match between sounds arriving at ears and words in vocabulary.
Use context and existing knowledge to identify words.

Question 7

Categorical Perception

Answer 7

We are better at hearing differences between sounds than within sounds.

Question 8

Phrase Structure

Answer 8

Sentence must have a noun phrase and a verb phrase. Helps us understand sentences we read or hear.

Question 9

Descriptive Rules

Answer 9

How things are actually done (eg phrase structure).

Question 10

Prescriptive Rules

Answer 10

How things should be done (“proper” English).

Question 11

Linguistic Universals

Answer 11

Rules or structural properties that apply to all human languages (eg subject-verb-object). Suggests a biological mechanisms for language learning that are switched on or off depending on language needs.

Question 12

Sentence Parsing

Answer 12

Determining the role of each word in a sentence. We parse in ways that make the most sense and are simplest (minimal attachment).

Question 13

Broca’s Area

Answer 13

Part of the brain predominantly dealing with production of speech sounds. Damage to this area results in an inability to speak or write with fluency (non-fluent aphasia).

Question 14

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 14

Part of the brain predominantly dealing with comprehension and meaning of language. Damage to this area results in an inability to understand language or produce meaningful speech (fluent aphasia).

Question 15

Linguistic Relativity

Answer 15

Hypothesis that people who speak different languages think about the world differently. Unclear evidence for this stronger form, however evidence points to the idea that language influences what we pay attention to and as such remember.