Video Module 20: Language Flashcards
external language (e-language)
named languages which people speak
- e.g. English, French, Italian, German, Mandarin, etc.
internal language (i-language)
the internalised set of constraints we use that allow us to learn, understand, and produce language
What is one way we can explain our ability to instantly understand and produce any novel sentence in our language?
Instead of storing every sentence that we’ve encountered or learned, it is better to think that we store language as a set of rules for understanding and producing language.
- It is estimated that there are about 1 quintillion possible novel sentences that can be made with the English language
What are five properties of Language?
- symbolic
- discrete infinity (generativity)
- structure dependence
- displacement
- organised at multiple levels
how is language symbolic?
the relationship between sounds/signs and meaning in a language is arbitrary
- speakers agree on these arbitrary relations
- supported by the idea that different languages can have different symbols (spoken words, signs, written words) for the same referent
referent
an actual object, action, or event in the world which a word refers to
- the relationship between a referent and a symbol (a word or sign) is arbitrary
discrete infinity (generativity)
a property of language in which we can make a (potentially) infinite set of utterances with a limited set of symbols
- generativity also suggests that we can make infinitely long sentences, so long as we follow the finite rules of a language
structure dependence (language)
a property of language in which meaning is conferred through a specific arrangement of symbols
- language is governed by rules which impart meaning and define which combinations of elements are acceptable or not
- in other words, rules are essential for defining acceptable (ie. grammatical) uses of language and unacceptable uses of language
- E.g. there are rules which help us decide what sentences mean, and whether sentences make sense or not
displacement (language)
a property of language in which it allows us to think of and communicate about things beyond what is in our immediate vicinity
How is language organised at multiple levels?
Language is hierarchically structured; elements of language build-off of one another
- e.g. sounds –> words –> sentences –> paragraphs –> texts
What are the levels of language representation?
- discourse
- syntax
- semantics
- morphology
- phonology
Where is language represented in the brain?
Language is mostly localised to the left hemisphere of the brain. The main areas responsible for language are Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, which are connected by the arcuate fasciculus.
- Broca’s area is more frontal
- Wernicke’s area is more temporal
Broca’s aphasia
aphasia that occurs with damage to the frontal lobe in the left hemisphere
characterised by: halting speech, repeating phrases or words (perseveration), disordered syntax and grammar, disordered structure of individual words, intact comprehension
- Patients with Broca’s aphasia are able to comprehend language but have trouble producing language
Wernicke’s aphasia
occurs with damage to the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere
characterised by: fluent speech, little spontaneous repetition, adequate syntax and grammar, inappropriate or contrived words, and damaged comprehension
- Patients with Wernicke’s aphasia are not able to comprehend language nor produce comprehendable language, but have no issues producing fluent speech
global aphasia
occurs when brain damage is very widespread (e.g. entire left hemisphere is damaged)
- nearly complete loss of comprehension and production of speech
- ‘stereotyped words’ (e.g. those which get repeated w/o particular meaning) might still be retained
