speech and language Flashcards
what is language + what used for (2)
arbitrary symbols with specific meanings to (a) refer to the outside world, and (b) express ideas, feelings, desires and emotions
is the brain hardwired for language
- seem to be born with circuits prepared for oral language
- written language is learned and recycles some of the preexisting circuits (of oral language)
brain area linking sounds and meanings
left temporal and parietal -> wernicke’s area
brain area organizing production of meaningful speech through motor commands
left frontal -> broca’s area
brain area responsible for emotional content of speech
right hemisphere
elements needed to produce written and oral language (3)
- motor control of speech production
- auditory and visual perception
levels of language (5)
- phonetics -> set of unitary sounds used to form symbols (phonemes)
- grammar -> rules for use of symbol
- syntax -> ordering of symbols to create meaning
- semantics -> associating symbols with meaning
- prosody -> emotional valence by varying intensity, pitch, rhythm
timeline of language development (5)
- 1st year (universalists) -> sensitive to phonemes; can discern slight acoustic changes
- start imitating sounds around 20 wks
- 6 months -> phonetic prototypes
- after 1y -> neural commitment to mother tongue (formation of speech-motor patterns)
- 3y -> ~1000 words, sentences, conversation
when does capacity to distinguish phonemes decline
before onset of first words (by end of 1st year)
period of best acquisition of 2nd language
<7 years
definition of critical period for language + ex of critical periods
moment when brain is plastic for learning (extended neural modification supporting behavior) -> 2nd half of 1st year (phonetic learning); first 7 years (language acquisition)
what does language acquisition depend on (2)
- experience
- time
area next to broca’s area + what does it do
primary motor cortex -> moves phonatory muscles
area next to wernicke’s area + what does it do
primary auditory cortex -> processes auditory input
what connects broca and wernicke’s areas
arcuate fasciculus
brain area involved in word meaning
temporal lobe
effect of lesion to any language area
aphasia
broca’s aphasia (7)
- affects ability to produce language efficiently
- nonfluent, effortful language
- preserved comprehension
- impaired repetition
- deficiency in motor planning
- disrupted organizational aspects of language
- sometimes right hemiparesis