Language and Thought Flashcards
Language
Consists of the use of symbols to represent, transmit, and store meaning / info
- Symbols include organized patterns of sound, visual representations, and movements
- Meaning includes concepts, quantities, plans, identity, feelings, ideas, facts, and customs
Composed of phonemes, morphemes, and grammar
What are the uses of language
- Provides a means to relay info
- Allows ppl to connect to ppl far away
- Allows for planning / execution of schemes
Phoneme
Smallest units of sound
eg. vowels and consonants
Morpheme
Units of meaning
eg. words / meaning parts of words; pre-/suffixes
Grammar
The rules for using words, including semantics, definitions, connotations, and syntax
ie. how the order of words make meaning
Language Development in Children
(0-4mon) receptive language
(4mon) productive language
(10mon) babbling sounds more like household language
(12mon) one-word stage, esp. nouns
(18-24mon) two-word, telegraphic speech: addition of verbs, constructing phrases
(24mon+) full, complex sentences
Nature vs Nurture in Language
We seem to have an genetic talent for acquiring language, but we also seem to have a “statistical” patter recognition talent
Critical Period for Learning Language
Development of language centers of the brain peaks at 3-7yrs; after that the development decreases linearly
How do deaf and blind children develop language skills?
Deaf / blind children se complex adapted language by using other senses that are heightened
eg. sign language
Aphasia
Impairment in the ability to produce / understand language; caused by brain damage
Broca’s Aphasia
Aphasia w/ difficulty in constructing sentences, speaking single words; does not affect the ability to sing
Wernicke’s Aphasia
Aphasia w/ difficulty in comprehending speech, producing coherent speech
Written Language Processing Pathway
- Visual cortex receives written words as visual stimulation
- Angular gyrus transforms visual codes into auditory ones
- Wernicke’s area interpret’s auditory code
- Broca’s area controls speech muscles via motor cortex
- Motor cortex allows word to be pronounced
Receptive Language
Associating sounds w/ facial movements
Recognizing when sounds are broken into words
Occurs in 0~4mon babies, dogs
Productive Language
Multilingual babbling / gestures
Occurs in 4mon babies, bees (dances), chimps (sign language)
Communication with Chimpanzees
Washoe the chimp learned to use 245 signs
- communicated w/ a deaf NYTimes reporter
- combined words to make convey meaning: “apple which is orange” for an orange
Chimp word production lacks syntax and productivity (ie. use language to request rather than describe)
Linguistic Determinism
The idea that our specific language determines how we think
Japanese vs English Language
Speaking in Jp provides many words for interpersonal emotions (eg. sympathy / empathy)
Speaking in En provides many self-focused emotions (eg. sadness / sorrow)
Language’s Influence on Thought
Bilingual ppl appear to have different personalities when describing themselves in different languages
Different languages vary in their separation of blue and green
Gender-inclusive words (ie. mankind) influences what images come to mind when these words are heard
Pormpuraaw vs English Language
English-speakers view time as a rightward bound arrow
Pormpuraaw view time as a westbound arrow
Apple in German vs Spanish Language
Apple in Ge: masculine
Apple in Sp: feminine
Bilingual Advantage
Bilinguals tend to have numerous brain connections / neural networks
- can suppress one language while learning another
- can resist distractions / inhibit impulses
Is there conscious thinking that goes on without being formed as words?
Some everyday decisions, such as which turn to take while driving, are certainly made based on images or other nonverbal content such as mental maps
Benefits of Imagery
Image rehearsal can help us improve behavior, even skilled performance such as playing piano or playing sports
Imagining a detailed sequence of actions often allows one to execute them
