Language and speech Flashcards
what is speech?
expression of a language
what is language?
system of symbols that allos transmission of human culture
true ro false: the brain is not wired for oral language?
False it s
we seem to be born with circuits prepared for oral language
-written language is learned and recycled some of the preexisting circuits= neural recycling hypothesis
language depends on which specialized areas?
- association cortices
- temporal, parietal and frontal lobe
- “perisylvian language circuits”
language is linked with 3 areas in the brain
- Linkage between sounds and their meanings: Left temporal and parietal cortices: aka auditory
- motor commands organizing production of meaningful speech: left frontal cortex
- Emotional content of speech: right hemisphere
which areas are critical for language?
Left frontal and temporal association corteces
Language functions are strongly lateralized to the….
left
what is the primary function of cortical language centers
symbolic representation for communication
what are phonetics?
set of unitary sounds we use to make symbols
grammar
set of rules for use of symbol
syntax:
ordering of symbols to create meaning
semantics
associating symbols with meaning
Prodody
providing emotional valence by varying intensity, pitch and rhythm
what were the 2 hypothesis for langage acquisition in children?
- Skinner: language is learned through experience
- Chomsky: innate language faculty: universal grammar
true or false: during the first year of life everyone is able to use any type of language aka we are able to distinguish a lot of phonemes
it is true
we start imitating sounds near 20 weeks and at 6 months we are able to say some phonetic prototypes
when do we commit to one language and how?
after 1y neural commitment with the mother tongue= formation of speech motor patterns and we loose the universality that we had= categoric perception
critical period for a second language
first 7 years
what do speech motor patterns do?
they influence sounds, tempo and rhythm of a second language
language acquisition depends on?
time and experience
Where is language processed in the brain?
-ventroposterior region of the frontal lobe
loss of ability to produce meaningful language was usually associated with damage to
frontal left hemisphere
was found thanks to broca
what did wernicke found?
aphasic patients that could speak normally but what they said made 0 sense
-it is the left posterior and superior temporal lobe aka wernickes area
what is the brocas area?
left posterior and inferior frontal lobe
rule of thumb: language is processed at the … and the language comprehension is processes at the….
frontal and temporal