Lecture 11 - Language and Thought Flashcards
(34 cards)
What does linguistic relativity propose, and what’s an example?
- It proposes that language influences but does not determine thought
- E.g. Eskimos have many words for snow, while English has few
- E.g., untranslatable words like Waldeinsamkeit (German) highlight cultural distinctions
What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis suggests that the structure of a language affects its speakers’ cognition and worldview. It includes two main ideas:
1) Linguistic Relativism: Language differences reflect non-linguistic differences
2) Linguistic Determinism: Language determines how we think
What is linguistic determinism? What Claim did Whorf make?
- Linguistic determinism is the idea that language determines how we think
- Whorf claimed that the Hopi language has no past, present, or future tense, meaning its speakers may experience time differently
What study challenges linguistic determinism using colour terms?
Heider (1972):
- Studied the Dani tribe in New Guinea, whose language had only two colour terms - mili (light) and mola (dark)
- Despite this, they showed better memory for focal colours, suggesting colour perception isn’t determined by language
What is the distinction between hard and soft determinism in terms of language?
- Hard determinism = Language determines thought
- Soft determinism = Language influences thought but doesn’t fix it
How did Kay and Kempton (1985) investigate colour perception, and what did they find?
They compared English speakers (who differentiate green/blue) with Tarahumara speakers (who don’t):
- English speakers’ judgements were influenced by language boundaries
- Tarahumara speakers were more consistent, not influenced by labels.
Supports soft determinism: Language influenced peceptual decisions
Does having language mean you think?
Not necessarily. This is debated. Turing said yes (Turing Test), but Searle argued no (Chinese Room Argument)
What is the Turing Test (1950)?
- A test of whether a machine can imitate human responses well enough to fool a human into thinking it’s human
- If it passes, it’s considered to be capable of “thinking”
What is Searle’s (1980) Chinese Room Argument?
- Even if a system can respond in Chinese (using rules), it doesn’t mean it understands Chinese
- Syntax doesn’t equal semantics. Passing the Turing Test doesn’t mean understanding or consciousness
What are some common arguments for why computers can’t think?
1) They are just programmed
2) They aren’t creative
3) They don’t have emotions
4) They can’t learn
5) They don’t have a brain
Can computers be creative? Examples?
Yes:
- Haiku generator (Masterman, 1971)
- Jazz generator (Philip Johnson-Laird, 1988)
These show rule-based systems can produce creative outputs
Why do people say computers can’t think because they have no emotions?
- Emotions are said to be essential for goal-setting and adaptive behaviour
- Critics argue that no emtions = no thoughts
- However, emotion is a design problem, not necessarily a requirement for intelligence
Can computers learn?
Yes. Modern AI uses machine learning, seen in speech recognition, game playing, and chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT)
Why do some argue computers can’t think because they lack a brain?
They lack organic matter, and some argue that only organic structures can generate consciousness. However, this is debated
What is the Systems Reply to Searle?
- The system as a whole understands. not just the person following instructions
- This challenges the idea that lack of understanding by the individual equates to no understanding at all
What is the Brain Stimulator Reply to Searle?
If a computer simulates the neural activity of a brain in detail, it may be functionally equivalent to a brain and therefore capable of thinking
What do neural transplants tell us about brain function?
- Studies like Bjorklund et al. (1987) and Lindvall et al. (1990) show embryonic neural tissue can integrate into damaged brains and restore function
- This supports the idea that thought arises from biological processes
What is Deep Brain Stimulation, and how does it relate to thought?
- DBS involves implanting electrodes in the brain to treat disorders like Parkinson’s
- It highlights he brain’s centrality to cognition and behaviour, reinforcing arguments that consciousness is rooted in biology
Who proposed the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf
What are the two parts of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
Linguistic relativism and linguistic determinism
What tribe did Heider (1972) study?
Dani tribe (New Guinea)
What two colour terms do the Dani use?
Mili (light), Mola (dark)
What was the key finding of Heider’s study?
Dani speakers could distinguish colours they had no words for, challenging determinism
Who conducted the green/blue colour boundary study?
Kay and Kempton (1985)
