Language, Thinking and Reasoning Flashcards
What is language?
An arbitrary system of communication that combines symbols in a rule-based way to create meaning
What are some functions of language?
Communication of information, expressing thoughts and feelings
What is pidgin in language?
Basic nouns & verbs, simplified version of a language
What is creole?
More syntax and grammatical structures than pidgin, first language rather than second
What two disorders have an impact on language and social interaction?
- Autism spectrum disorder
- William’s Syndrome
There are four levels of analysis of language that must coordinate. What are they?
- Phonemes - sounds of language
- Morphemes - smallest units of meaningful speech
- Syntax - rules and grammar
- Extralinguistic information - important for interpretation
About how many phonemes are there in total?
Around 100, each language has a subset of them
How can morphemes be created?
By stringing phonemes together to create the smallest units of meaning
What is syntax?
The set of rules to construct sentences, e.g., word order and sentence structure
What is the purpose of extralinguistic information?
Helps us interpret ambiguous information, uses other external factors beyond the sentence (e.g. facial expressions, tone of voice, previous statements)
What are some examples of pragmatics?
Turn taking, using polite language, opening/closing conversations
What are language dialects?
Variations of the same language that use consistent syntax rules
What are some disadvantages of learning a new language?
Long learning period that requires hefty brain power, vocal tract increases choking
For learning a language to be worth it, the advantages must be useful. What can be some worthwhile benefits?
Communication of complex ideas, coordinated social interactions, assists in complex activities
When does native language recognition begin?
Before birth
What is babbling?
Practice that infants use with their vocal tracts to help recognize phonemes
At what age can an infant recognize their own name? Other words? When can they produce words?
Recognize name - 6 months
Comprehend other words - 10-12 months
Producing words - 1 year
What is syntactic development?
Refers to combining words into phrases
What is motherese?
Child directed speech that is short and simple, words paired with objects to expand child’s speech
How is sign language similar to spoken language?
It has its own set of phonemes (cherems), words, syntax, and extralinguistic information, the same brain areas are involved, and developmental stages are the same as spoken language
What are the 4 theories of language acquisition?
- Imitation
- Nativist
- Social pragmatics
- General cognitive processing
What does the imitation language theory suggest?
Babies hear language used in systematic ways & learn to use language as adults use it
What’s a major conflict against the imitation theory of language acquisition?
Doesn’t account for generative nature of language
What does the nativist theory of language acquisition suggest?
Children are born with some basic knowledge
What makes the nativist language acquisition theory questionable?
It’s difficult to falsify
What does the social pragmatics theory of language acquisition suggest?
Specific aspects of the social environment structure language learning, assumes that infants have insight into others’ thoughts
What is general cognitive processing?
General skills children apply across a variety of activities
What is linguistic determinism?
The view that we represent all thinking linguistically
What is linguistic relativity?
Characteristics of language shape our thought processes
We must learn 4 things prior to reading. What are they?
- Writing is meaningful
- Writing moves in a specific direction
- Recognizing letters of the alphabet
- Printed letters correspond to specific sounds
To master reading, what two skills do we need to learn?
- How the words look on the page - whole word recognition
- How to sound out unfamiliar words - phonetic decomposition
How fast does the average student read?
200-300 WPM
If one were to read above 400 WPM, how much does comprehension drop?
Below 50%
What is thinking?
Any mental activity or processing of information, includes learning, remembering, communicating, as they are fundamental aspects of cognition
What is top-down processing?
Streamlines cognitive functioning by utilizing pre-existing knowledge
What is higher order cognition?
The process of decision making and problem solving
What are 3 obstacles to problem solving?
- Awareness of surface similarities
- Mental sets
- Functional fixedness
