language and cognition2 Flashcards
Holmes & Wilson (2022):
Discusses language’s role in shaping perceptions, beliefs, and social constructs.
Language and Perception Example:
Analyzes a medical textbook excerpt demonstrating gender biases and patronizing language.
What is verbal hygiene?
the practice of regulating language use to promote certain social or political objectives
such as using non-sexist language or avoiding offensive terms.
What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
the structure and vocabulary of a language influence how its speakers perceive and think about the world.
Give examples of linguistic relativity.
how different languages categorize concepts influence speakers’ perception and cognition.
How did Whorf contribute to the study of language and cognition?
language shapes thought.
He argued that language influences how we perceive and interpret the world around us
How do linguistic categories reflect culture?
reflect cultural values, norms, and social structures.
For example, kinship** terms and possession semantics vary across cultures and languages**.
What are some consequences of multilingualism?
Multilingualism can lead to enhanced cognitive abilities, different worldviews shaped by language, and the preservation of unique cultural perspectives.
How does language use vary across social classes?
Language use varies across social classes, with differences in
* vocabulary,
* grammar,
* pronunciation.
Sociolinguists like Basil Bernstein have studied how language reflects and perpetuates social inequality.
What is the role of grammar in shaping cognition?
Grammar plays a significant role in shaping cognition by organizing the structure of language and influencing how speakers conceptualize and express ideas.
Basil Bernstein
a sociologist from the UK in the 1960s who studied the relationship between social class, language use, and academic success.
He proposed the idea that working-class children’s use of a “restricted code” constrained their cognitive abilities, influencing perception and academic performance.
Restricted Code vs. Elaborated Code:
Bernstein distinguished between two styles of language use.
- The “restricted code” is characterized by its economy and richness in conveying meaning with few words, relying on shared knowledge among speakers.
- the “elaborated code” spells out information in detail to ensure understanding, especially in situations where shared knowledge may be lacking.
Challenging Assumptions:
working-class speech was inherently deficient compared to middle-class speech.
different varieties of language were not inherently more or less sophisticated, and communication problems could arise on both sides of an interaction.
Hypothesis on Nouns and Pronouns:
children who used more nouns in a picture description task had better linguistic resources than those who used more pronouns.
