Lecture 9

Question 1

Explicit learning

Answer 1

Intentional learning of information while consciously looking for structure.

Question 2

Implicit learning

Answer 2

Learning while being unaware of the rules or structure that are embedded in the information.

Question 3

Language definition

Answer 3

A system for communicating with others using signals that convey meaning and are combined according to the rules of grammar.

Question 4

Linguistics

Answer 4

The study of language and its rules

• Attempts to describe languages in a compact set of rules.

Question 5

Psycholinguistics

Answer 5

The study of human use of language.

• Attempts to describe how we acquire, use, generate and comprehend language.

Question 6

Phoneme

Answer 6

The smallest unit of sound that is recognised as meaningful speech.

Question 7

Morphemes

Answer 7

Smallest meaningful units of a language.

• Dog has two morphemes: ‘dog’ and plural ‘s’

Question 8

Phonological rules

Answer 8

Indicate how phonemes can be combined to produce speech sounds and how they are ordered into syllables and morphemes.

Question 9

Morphonological rules

Answer 9

Indicate how morphemes can be combined to form words.

Question 10

Types of prosodic cues (3)

Answer 10

Intonation, volume, speaking rate.

Question 11

Syntax

Answer 11

It specifies how the units of language can be combined to form phrases and sentences.

Question 12

Language development - behaviourists explanation

Answer 12

Skinner: we learn to talk in the same way we learn any other skill - through reinforcement, shaping, extinction, and other basic principles of operant conditioning.

Question 13

Language development - nativist explanation

Answer 13

Language development is best explained as an innate, biological capability.

• Chomsky: the human brain is equipped with a universal grammar, a collection of processes that facilitate language learning.

Question 14

Deep structure

Answer 14

Refers to the conceptual meaning of any sentence. This structure is not language-specific.

Question 15

Surface structure

Answer 15

The specific way in which the deep structure is expressed (the actual sequence of words that are used).

Question 16

Transformational rules

Answer 16

Allow us to generate a surface structure that fits the deep structure.

Question 17

Genetic dysphasia

Answer 17

An inability to learn grammatical structure despite otherwise normal intelligence.

Question 18

Language development - interactionist explanation

Answer 18

Biological and cognitive mechanisms are necessary but not sufficient.
Language development must occur in the context of meaningful social interactions.

Question 19

Vocal learning

Answer 19

The ability to modify acoustic and syntactic sounds, acquire new sounds via imitation and produce vocalisation.