Lecture 2. Language: reference and meaning Flashcards
How was Helen Keller taught language?
Her teacher would create specific finger spelling for specific items. It was not until the teacher showed her water on one hand while finger spelling it on the other that she made the association
What could the Vervet Monkey do?
Make warning calls to one another in regards to identifying specific threats that are present
What is the definition of language according to Deacon
Language is a mode of communication based on symbolic reference involving combinatorial rules that comprise a system for representing logical relationships among these symbols
What two components does language consist of?
Word meaning (symbolic reference) and Syntax (rules for combining words into sentences)
What could the vervet monkey NOT do with the call? i.e. what could not be done with concept of the eagle?
Use it for further abstract semantic concepts of the eagle or in different contexts in the absence of the eagle
What is it about the Vervet Monkey calls that makes it not necessarily indicate a language
It is just a warning sign as opposed to complex, multi-contextual understanding
What are Peirce’s three modes of reference? The different means in which one thing (a sign) brings to mind another thing (the signed)
Iconic
Indexical
Symbolic
What is an Iconic reference?
a reference based on physical similarity between the sign and what it signifies.
What does an iconic reference do?
it forms the basis for basic perceptual recognition processes
Underpins how we “re-cognise” similarity between the current input and previous experiences
Indexical Reference is what
a reference that is based on a temporal or physical contiguity, correlation, co-occurence between a sign and what it signifies
What are examples of indexical references?
Alarm calls indicate the presence of a predator
Pheromones indicate sexual receptiveness
Smoke indicates fire
How can words be indexical?
When they point directly to their meaning-
Over there (specifically)
I (specifically)
you etc
During learning can nouns and verbs be used indexically to indicate what they are referring to?
Yes
Symbollic reference relies on what?
An agreed upon and established link to some kind of meaning.
Are Iconic, Indexical and Symbollic meanings mutually exclusive?
No, not in the least
What is the Peirce modes of reference?
Iconic
Indexical
Symbollic
What is Peirce’s modes of reference defined by?
The type of relationship between the sign and what is being signified
What is an example of an iconic reference?
A portrait referencing a person by its physical similarity
What is Onomatopeia?
A word sounding like it’s reference, like “splash” or “buzz”
An iconic reference forms the basis for basic perceptual recognition processes. It is based on a physical similarity between the sign and what it signifies. It allows re-conising of similarities between what?
Current and previous experiences
What is an indexical reference?
a physical or temporal co-occurrence between a sign and what it signifies
Why/how are nouns and verbs used indexically when first learning their association
To help show their meaning, such as “Me, Tim” (points to myself)
What is symbolic learning?
The recognising of iconic forms and symbol-object correlations
What is necessary in symbolic learning?
Forming a iconic relationships between one instance of a word and another to establish reliable word recognition
Why is symbolic learning hard?
What determines the meaning of a symbol is not the probability of co-occurrence with its referent in time or space.
Why is symbolic learning hard?
It is a complex function of the relationship that a symbol has to other symbols within a symbolic system
Why is symbolic learning hard?
Words are defined by their relationship to other words. Higher order correlations between words within a grammar begin to matter more than the co-occurrence of a word and its referent in time or space
What is it about chimps learning symbols that is not using in the context of a language?
The chimps were using the object to obtain rewards, not learning to use the words in multiple contexts
Why is learning symbols as a language hard?
words with similar meanings are often used alternatively, not together
Why is learning symbols as a language hard?
words with different meanings tend to be adjacent to one another in sentences
When is symbol-object pairings easy for animals?
When they are made into “request-tasks” (the animal learns the symbol to ask for something)
Can apes comprehend symbols?
Yes
When can apes use symbols to communicate?
-To obtain a reward
-if they have joint attention
-if their environment places a premium on cooperation
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What is indexical learning?
Associating a symbol to an outcome. E.g Chimp presses banana button to receive a banana
How is indeixical learning different to symbolic learning?
Indexical leanring is learning that producing a symbol or sequence of symbols can obtain a desired outcome. The symbol is associated with the outcome
Symbolic learning is understanding the iconic and indexical forms of the the reference and being able to use it in a variety of contexts
What is parallel activation?
The prediction of words and their associated words based on their starting sounds. So, you hear a fragment, and it then primes multiple words and associated phrases in parallel to make call up more efficient
What is an example of a high frequency preference parallel word call up?
Hearing d and thinking of dog strongly and also priming dock, dick etc
What is an example of associated word parallel activation
hearing the word capt- and thinking of both boat and prisoner (for captain and capture)
What is a voiced word feature?
Something like saying “t” and “d” in which you voice “d” but do not voice “t”
What is a phoneme “feature”
A characteristic of a sound of a phoneme
Is the TRACE model influenced by frequency of use?
Yes
Is the TRACE model on excitatory?
No, inhibitory feedback of less used terms or non appropriate terms can occur
How does the TRACE model explain word recognition?
TRACE model explains word recognition as a process of gradually building activation(or evidence) for a set of lexical candidates in parallel over time
Do lexical nodes of high frequency words have a lower or higher activation threshold?
lower
What is a lexicon?
Our internal language dictionary
What is the bi-lingual lexicon ilke? a. Separate, independent lexica which is selectively drawn upon individually,
b. Integrated lexica with selectived lexica,
c. Separate independent lexica with a non selective process of deciding which to draw upon.
d. Integrated lexica with a non selectively drawn upon process
d. integrated lexica that is non selectively drawn upon
What has FMRI studies shown about brain activation and brain areas
The same brain areas represent both languages, bilinguals and monolinguals use the same brain area for language use
What was it about Dutch and English bilinguals and the density of orthographic neighbours that shows that bilinguals activate words from both languages, non selectively?
Dutch English speakers took longer to decide on the right word when there was a high density of dutch orthographic neighbours.
Words with lower orthographic neighbours took less time to recognise. Monliguals took less time again
How does the Bilingual Interactive Model quieten noise of another language?
With a top down inhibitory approach to reduce activation of those language nodes
Why is it considered that there is a bilingual advantage?
It’s considered that the constant control that bilinguals need to exhibit is advantageous in controlling distracting information and discerning in other areas
What area of the brain is activated more in bilinguals?
The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex - an area of the brain that is responsible for monitoring correct responses and error detection
