Week 2: Language, Reference & Meaning

Question 1

definition of language (3)

Answer 1

1) a mode of communication based on symbolic reference
2) involving combinatorial rules
3) has a system for representing logical relationships among symbols

Question 2

two core components of language

Answer 2

Word meaning/symbolic references

Syntax: rules for combining words to sentences.

Question 3

types of non-symbolic references

Answer 3

References: one thing (a sign) ‘brings to mind’ another thing

types:
laughter, facial expressions, gestures, alarm calls….

Question 4

Peirce’s three modes of reference is … …

Answer 4

Iconic
Indexical
Symbolic

Question 5

Peirce’s three modes of reference defined by … …

Answer 5

1) nature of the relationship between the sign and

2) that which is signified.

Question 6

Iconic references definition

Answer 6

1) has a physical similarity between the sign and what it signifies
2) underpins how we ‘re-cognise’ similarity between the current input and previous experiences

Question 7

Iconic references:

Basis for

Answer 7

basic perceptual recognition processes

perceptual forms of mental representation

Question 8

Indexical Reference is based on

Answer 8

a physical/temporal contiguity (correlation, co-occurrence) between a sign and what it signifies

Question 9

when words point directly to their meaning, they are _____ references

eg: here, there, nouns.

Answer 9

Indexical

**language usually start @ this level

Question 10

Symbolic reference definition

Answer 10

Symbolic reference is based on some formal or agreed upon link

Question 11

Symbolic reference holds irrespective of:

Answer 11

1) similarity in physical characteristics betw sign or object (iconic)
2) physical or temporal contiguity between sign and object (index)

Question 12

References properties. Of the 3 forms of relatuonship

Answer 12

1) 3 forms are not mutually exclusive forms of reference.
2) has a hierarchical representational structure
3) symbolic lvl depends on establishment of the iconic and indexical lvls. (S grounded in the lower lvls)

Question 13

Role of Iconic relationship in symbolic learning

Answer 13

Iconic relationships between one instance of a word and another is important for reliable word recognition

Question 14

Role of Indexical relationship in symbolic learning

Answer 14

Establishing the link between a word and its referent

as the occurrence of the word is is initially associated with the presence of the object

Question 15

symbolic meaning is a function of … .

Answer 15

of the relationship that a symbol has to other symbols within a symbolic system
Higher-order correlations between words within a grammar > co-occurrence of a word and its referent in time/space

Question 16

reasons that made symbolic meaning hard:

Answer 16

1) Words with similar meanings are often used alternatively, not together
2) Words with different meanings tend to be adjacent to one another.
3) The frequency with which specific word combinations are repeated is extremely low.

they are considered unreliable relationships would be easily extinguished.

Question 17

Details of Sue Savage-Rumbaugh’s study with chimpanzees

RQ

Answer 17

RQ: Does a chimp know that a symbol can stand for an object that may be absent?

system used: lexigrams

Question 18

Details of Sherman and Austin:

3 steps to acquire symbolic learning

Answer 18

1) comprehension not production and symbolic reference rather than syntax.
(request task: show banana, choose lexigrams, give banana)
indexical rs

2) Gradually de-coupled the name from the presence of the object (decontextualized)
(fading technique: distinction between naming and requesting) unlearning of indexical

3) learn communicating symbolically with each other about an object that was not visible
(hiding task: signal whats in the box)

Question 19

the 1st experiment for to show that Sherman and Austin communicating (Theory of Mind.)

Answer 19

components:
1) informer
2) responder
communicating what is in the box with lexigrams

Question 20

the 2nd experiment for to show that Sherman and Austin communicating with lexigrams (with food and tools)

Answer 20

Sherman and Austin in different rooms. (tools or food)

“Requester” -> tool
“Responder” -> identify tool and then pass it through.

They then were able to share the food.