PS4: language

Question 1

language

Answer 1

tool that allows us to communicate our cognitive processes with other humans

Question 2

phoneme

Answer 2

smallest unit of language (units of speech sounds)

Question 3

categorical perception

Answer 3

learned by children when differentiating between sounds

Question 4

morphology

Answer 4

units within a word that can alter its meanings (ie: prefixes, suffixes, tenses)

Question 5

syntax

Answer 5

affects the meaning of words, such as grammar rules

Question 6

pragmatics

Answer 6

prior meaning and contextual knowledge that speakers of a language share

Question 7

semantics

Answer 7

the meanings of words

Question 8

social interactionist theory

Answer 8

language acquisition is driven by the desire of children to interact with their environment and others

Question 9

nativist (biological) theory

Answer 9

humans have an innate ability to speak and use language

Question 10

language acquisition device

Answer 10

specialized neurological pathway that allows young children to automatically acquire language by observing the world around them

Question 11

critical period

Answer 11

late infancy (2 to 3 yrs old) to early adulthood (puberty) during which it is much easier to learn a language

Question 12

learning (behaviorist) theory

Answer 12

language is acquired through operant conditioning (correct language is rewarded)

Question 13

Whorfian hypothesis

Answer 13

our perception of the world is somewhat shaped by the language we use

Question 14

broca’s aphasia

Answer 14

reduced ability to produce language

Question 15

wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 15

reduction in language comprehension

Question 16

conduction aphasia

Answer 16

difficulty in repeating a recently heard sentence