Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is language?
consists of a system of symbols and rules
What is psycholinguistics?
the scientific study of the psychological aspects of language
What are the properties of language?
language is symbolic and structured
grammar
semantics
form/transfer metal representations that have meaning
generativity
displacement
How is language symbolic and structured?
use of sounds, signs, gestures
allows for forming and transferring mental representations
How does language have grammar?
the set of rules for how symbols can be combined into communication
How does language have semantics?
the meaning of words and sentences
How does language have generativity?
combine symbols to generate an infinite messages
How does language have displacement?
can communicate about things not physically present
What is the surface structure of language?
ways symbols are combined
syntax and grammar
What is the deep structure of language?
underlying meaning of combined symbols
semantics: rules for connecting the symbols
What are phonemes?
smallest units of sound recognized as separate
building blocks of language
about 44 phonemes in the English language
What are morphemes?
smallest unit of meaning
combination of phonemes
more than 100,000 morphemes
What is the role of bottom-up processing?
individual elements of a stimulus are combined to form a unified perception
What is the role of top down processing?
sensory information is interpreted in light of existing knowledge, concepts, ideas, and expectations
What are pragmatics?
the social context of language
a knowledge of the practical aspects of using language
context matters (esp. social context), clarity, tone
What are the biological foundations of language?
all languages have a common deep structure
infants (1-3 months age): vocalize entire range of phonemes
6-12 months: discriminate sounds specific to native language
What is the social learning process?
evidence against operant conditioning (children learn words quickly, parent don’t correct grammar)
language acquisition system (LASS)
social factors in the environment facilitate language learning
What is the developmental timeline and sensitive periods of language development in children?
all children go through the same stages
cooing: 0-4 months
babbling: 5-12 months
single words: 9-18 months
telegraphic speech: 18-30 months
What is bilingualism?
learning a second language
learned best +spoken most fluently when acquired in sensitive period
measuring your ability to ignore irrelevant details
What are linguistic influences on thinking?
how we think
how efficiently we categorize experiences
how much detail we attend to
perceptions
decisions
conclusions
What is the “waggle dance” observed in bees?
direction of food: shows path relative to the sun based on angle
distance of food: the length of the dance, from beginning to end
quality of food: vigor of the dance, more vibration means better food
What are Hockett’s Design Features of language?
vocal auditory canal: (language is produced through the vocal tract and transmitted as sound, language is perceived through the auditory channel
displacement: language can be used to communicate things not present in time and space
learnability: user of one language can learn to use different language
What does language look like in ants?
chemical communication: pyrazine and pheromones
body language: touching, trophallaxis
auditory communication: calls to other ants
What does language look like in vervet monkeys?
have 3 different types of vocalizations depending on the predator (eagles, leopards, snakes)
