Week 3 (Language and thought)

Language

the primary mode of communication for humans it consists of a combination of symbols, sounds, with meanings and rules

Symbolic

arbitrary symbols i.e letters, characters etc

Semantic

has meaning

Structured

grammar

Generative

Productivity infinite number of combinations

Phonemes

Smallest unit of sound information (p, b, m, f)

Morphemes

smallest unit of meaning (words, suffixes and prefixes)

Syntax

rules that govern the placement of words and phrases within a language 

Chomsky grammar

a system for generating acceptable language utterances and identifying unacceptable ones 

Development of language 0-3 months

Coos, gurgles, and orients to sound

Development of language 4-6 months

Responds to name; emits vowel and consonant sounds, babbles and cries

Development of language 7-18 months

Copies gestures; specialises native language; responds to gestures

Development of language 2-3 years

Uses short sentences; matches objects to names, follows instructions

Development of language 4-5 years

Uses proper simple grammar, memorises simple songs, clearer speach

Development of language 10+ years

Stored 50-10,000 words; can speak 2-4 words per-second

B.F Skinner view on language

humans learn language through conditioning (Nurture)

Chomsky’s view on language

impossible to learn all the words and grammar that fast so he suggested that universal grammar is innate and language acquisition parts of the brain

Nature vs Nurture on language

Genetic predisposition to create language and environmental factors specialise language advancement 

Broca’s area

important for speech production and grammar

Broca’s aphasia (non-fluent)

• difficult speech

• slight deficit with grammar 

• comprehension may be relatively well preserved 

Wernicke’s area

recognising speech sounds/ words meaning

Wernicke’s aphasia (fluent)

• normal speech rhythm 

• Incorrect use and/or pronounciation of words

Algorithms

systematic rules/procedure that vary by context

Heuristics

a rule of thumb that provides a best-guess solution including trial and error or shortcuts

barriers to problem solving 

mental set, functional fixedness and confirmation bias

mental set

using the same strategies

functional fixedness

inability to use ab object in an unfamiliar way

confirmation bias

search for confirmation of what they already believe and overlook conflicting information

decision making

1. Define the problem

2. define alternatives

3. decide on criteria

4. pros and cons

5. make the decision 

Heuristics in decision making

• representative → people categorise by matching similar things and ignore probability 

• negatively impact ability to think statistically 

• Availability → events that are more easily remembered are judged to be more probable than events that are harder to remember 

problem solving

Process of transforming one situation into another to meet a goal, the Initial state → Operators → Goal state