Theories Flashcards
Computational Theory of Mind
The human mind is an information processing system and cognition and consciousness are together a form of computation
Generativism
- Noam Chomsky
- describing language by generative grammars is useful
- language is biologically prewired property of humans
Modularity
Specialisation: language processing is specialized in the brain to the extent that it occurs in different areas than other types of information processing such as visual input
Connectionism
Learning is achieved by a network of units that correspond, metaphorically, to neurons in the brain
Semantic networks features
- spreading activation
- parallel processing
- slow decay
- feedback
- inhibition
Theories of word meaning
- referential theory
- definitional theory
- image theory
- prototype theory
(5. family resemblance)
Referential theory of meaning
Meaning of a word is the object in the worlds to which the word refers
Problems referential theory
empty references are still meaningful
Image theory of meaning
Meanings are mental pictures associated with a word
Problems image theory
picture more specific than meaning; picture has no essential components; abstract concepts do not have a picture
Definitional theory of meaning
Meaning of a word is its definition
Problems definitional theory
seems not to include whole meaning; we know meaning before definition
Prototype theory of meaning
a set is defined by its members + prototypical elements
Problems prototype theory
not every set has a prototype; prototypes can vary without variation in meaning; do prototypes really determine meaning?
Two stages theory
We first activate and select lemma and only later phonological form
Evidence: ToT
Evidence two stages
- Kempen & Huijbers; describing scenes
- Levelt et al; picture naming with auditory distractor
- Meyer; producing sentences with two nouns (pictures)
Phonological Completeness Hypothesis
Earlier acquired words easier to pronounce than later acquired
Semantic Locus Hypothesis
Late acquired words are often defined in terms of earlier learned words, the lexical entrees for earlier acquired words may be implicitly aroused whenever a late acquired word is encountered, thereby lowering the thresholds of the earlier acquired words
Network Plasticity Hypothesis
When patterns are entered into training early, the network structures itself, through larger weight changes, into a certain configuration. When later learned patterns are entered, the network has lost some of its plasticity.
Cumulative Frequency Hypothesis
Early acquired words have simply been encountered more times during a participant’s lifetime
Lexical-Semantic Competition Hypothesis
In experimental tasks such as word naming and lexical decision, the size of the frequency effect and AoA effect are highly correlated and roughly equivalent.
Bilateral Representation Hypothesis
Early acquired words are represented in hemispheres of the brain, later acquired words only in the left, rejected: failed to find any interaction between visual field and AoA
Pragmatic reasoning
The process of finding the intended meaning(s) of the given and it is suggested that this amounts to the process of inferring the appropriate context(s) in which to interpret the given.
Models of speech production
- psycholinguistic processing
- neurocomputational
a. feedforward/feedback model (DIVA)
b. state feedback models (FACTS)
