Psy of Lang Flashcards
Why is it difficult to understand how our brains comprehend language?
Our brains are highly complex with around 86 billion neurons and 1000 trillion synapses
Outline Marr’s level of explanation (of what the brain does)
- Descriptive
- Algorithm
- Hardware implementation
What is David marr’s level of explanation also known as? (1982)
The tri-level hypothesis
How would we be able to fully understand info processing ?
If we are able to explain it at all three levels:
Descriptive
Algorithm
Hardware implementation
What does the first level of info processing represent ?
What the system does (descriptive)
What does the second level of info processing represents?
The processes used to solve these problems
What does the 3rd level of the info system show?
At this level it explains the way the system is physically implemented
Who stated that the middle level is reductionist (psy of Lang)
Peebles and cooper 2015
What does buckle 2015 argue about info processing
Nicole’s argues that new techniques and tools such as the cortical micro stimulation have allowed neuroscientists to begin constructing causal-mechanistic explanations of the brain
What is an example of an algorithm of info processing?
Are there certain rules underlying language ?
What is a symbol?
This is a special arbitrary pattern that is used to carry a specific meaning
Define language
Language is characterised by a infinite set of utterances from a finite set of elements.
The symbols and grammatical rules of language can only be acquired through social interaction, why?
Because symbols and grammar are largely arbitrary
Animals don’t use language yet they still
Communicate. Name an example of animal communication
Honeybee dance
How many signs did washoe learn?
130
Why did nim refute noam Chomsky ?
Because nim learned 125 signs
Outline what kanzi (bonobo) learned
Kanzi was able to associate 150 symbols with spoken words and objects.
Kanzi’ performance was comparable to a 5 year old true or false
False (2 year old)
Why did early behaviourists say language cannot be studied?
Because there is no observable evidence of mental representations
What happens to children who don’t receive proper language input ?
They create their own gestural language
Using behavioural models how can language be explained?
Stimulus - response
Reinforcement
Who proposed to idea of universal grammar
Chomsky
Describe what is meant by language is modular
All humans are born with a module
For learning Language known as the language acquisition device
How is the LAD helpful?
It’s helpful because it means children don’t need to know the entire grammar when learning a language, they just set parameters for their LAD
