Language, Thought and Communication - GCSE

Schema

A mental framework we have of what we already know and believe about the world around us. These frameworks are based on previous information and experiences, helping us to organise and understand new information that we receive.

Thought

Mental activity of thinking, which involves reasoning and considering, developing ideas and forming opinions.

language

Communication system unique to humans: it consists of a set of arbitrary conventional symbols through which meaning is conveyed. These symbols can be combined in such a way that an infinite number of novel messages can be produced.

Animism

Speaking about objects as if they have feelings.

Unfalsifiable

not capable of being proved false

Waggle Dance

If more than 100m. Figure of 8. On straight section waggle abdomen - speed tells us how far. Indicates where food is.

Round Dance

Food less than 100m. Circular movement

Animal Communication

The exchange of information between animals (including humans) within the same species using a variety of signals. Some of these signals are vocal - involving sound - but some are visual or involve smell.

Survival

•Make an alarm call when danger is near.
•Vervet monkeys make an alarm call when they see a predator
•Rabbits lift their tails high, pin their ears back and leap forward to signal danger
•Can use 'threat signals' to warn others to back off.

Territory

an area, region, or piece of land they are in charge of. •Scent marking - going to the toilet.
•White rhinos pile their poo up almost like a barricade.
•They also step in the poo so when they move, they mark their territory
•Animals can fight but avoid it as can lead to death - they want to survive and reproduce.

Food

•Signal to their herd that food is close.
•Bees use a bee dance - we look at this in Lesson 7.
•Others use pheromones to signal food - ants for example.

Reproduction

•Peacock. Why would the peacock showing its feathers help reproduction.
•Bright feathers = good genetic fitness
•Good genetic fitness = healthy offspring who will survive.
•Also bird of prey dance.

Eye contact

When two people look at each other's eyes at the same time. Helps to regulate the flow of conversation, may signal attraction or express emotion.

Non verbal communication

Sending and receiving messages/information without the use of words: can include eye contact, facial expressions or more general body language. Can play an important role in relaying meaning to other people.

Verbal communication

Sending and receiving messages using words

Body language

Conscious and unconscious postures, gestures and movements that convey attitudes and feelings.

Closed posture

Adopting a position with arms folded across the body and/or crossing the legs. May indicate disagreement or irritation.

Open posture

Adopting a position in which the arms are not folded across the body and legs are not crossed. May indicate being relaxed or being in agreement.

Postural echo

Mirroring or having a similar body position to another person. May indicate being in agreement or friendliness.

Personal Space

The physical distance we like to have between us and others so that we feel comfortable.

Culture

Beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

Gender

A person's sense of being either male or female, generally identified by social behaviours and cultural roles.

Status

A person's rank, social or professional position.

Adaptive

When an individual's physical or psychological characteristics are able to change in order to fit different situations and environments. Being adaptive increases that individual's chances of survival and successful reproduction.

Evolution

Explains how species have adapted to their environment over millions of years. Behaviours that increase the chances of survival and reproduction are naturally selected and passed on to the next generation.

Serviceable habits

•our emotional expressions are remnants of full-blown behaviours that helped our non-human ancestors meet important goals in the past.
•They serve a different purpose to us as humans.

Survival of the fittest

Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called natural selection

Innate

existing from birth, inborn

Natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Learnt

Using knowledge

Neonates

newborn babies

Sensory deprived

An animal or human who receives limited or no information from one or more sensory organs.

Displacement

ability to communicate about things that are not present or events that will happen in the future

Closed system

•signals refer to very specific events.

Open system

•words can be combined in many combinations.

single channel

•Can only communicate using one method.

multiples channels

•Text, email, letters, social media etc.