Language and Thought Processes

This set of flashcards focuses on vocabulary and concepts related to language acquisition, cognitive processes, and reasoning, suitable for exam preparation.

Language

A structured system of communication using symbols (spoken, written, or signed) governed by rules.

Generativity

The ability to produce an infinite number of sentences from a finite set of elements.

Grammar

The set of rules that govern the structure of language, including syntax and morphology.

Phoneme

The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language.

Morpheme

The smallest unit of meaning in a language (e.g., 'un-', '-ed').

Syntax

Rules that govern the arrangement of words into sentences.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language.

Pragmatics

The study of how context influences language use and interpretation.

Telegraphic speech

Early speech stage where children use short, content-rich phrases (e.g., 'want toy').

Overgeneralization

Applying grammatical rules too broadly (e.g., 'goed' instead of 'went').

B.F. Skinner

Behaviorist who believed language is learned through reinforcement and imitation.

Behaviorism

A theory that behavior is learned through conditioning and environmental stimuli.

Noam Chomsky

Linguist who proposed that humans have an innate ability to acquire language.

Nativist theory

The belief that language ability is biologically hardwired.

Sensitive period

A developmental window when language acquisition is most effective.

Universal grammar

Chomsky’s idea that all languages share a common underlying structure.

Poverty of the stimulus

Argument that children acquire complex language despite limited input.

Pidgin language

Simplified language developed for communication between groups without a common language.

Creole language

A stable, fully developed language that evolves from a pidgin.

Interactionist theories

Propose that language development results from both biological and social factors.

Surface structure

The literal arrangement of words in a sentence.

Deep structure

The underlying meaning of a sentence.

Broca’s area

Brain region involved in speech production.

Wernicke’s area

Brain region involved in language comprehension.

Sex differences in lateralization

Research suggests males may show more left-hemisphere dominance for language than females.

Bilingualism

The ability to speak and understand two languages.

Bilingualism and cognitive ability

Linked to enhanced executive function, attention control, and cognitive flexibility.

Linguistic relativity hypothesis

The idea that language influences thought and perception.

Propositions

Statements that express ideas and can be true or false.

Concepts

Mental categories used to group objects, events, or ideas.

Necessary conditions

Conditions that must be present for something to belong to a category.

Prototype theory

Concepts are formed around the most typical example.

Exemplar theory

Concepts are formed by comparing new stimuli to specific examples in memory.

Category-specific deficit

Inability to recognize objects from a specific category due to brain damage.

Rational choice theory

Assumes individuals make decisions by weighing costs and benefits.

Algorithms

Step-by-step procedures that guarantee a solution.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts used to make decisions quickly.

Availability heuristic

Judging likelihood based on how easily examples come to mind.

Representativeness heuristic

Judging probability based on similarity to a prototype.

Conjunction fallacy

Mistaken belief that specific conditions are more probable than general ones.

Framing effects

Decisions are influenced by how information is presented.

Sunk-cost fallacy

Continuing an endeavor due to prior investment, even if it’s irrational.

Optimism bias

Belief that one is less likely to experience negative events.

Expected utility

A calculation of the value of an outcome multiplied by its probability.

Certainty effect

Preference for certain outcomes over probabilistic ones, even if the latter has higher expected value.

VMPFC and anticipatory feeling

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex helps evaluate emotional responses to future outcomes.

Means-ends analysis

Problem-solving strategy that involves breaking down goals into manageable steps.

Analogical problem solving

Using solutions from similar problems to solve new ones.

Insight

Sudden realization of a problem’s solution.

Functional fixedness

Inability to see alternative uses for an object.

Reasoning

The process of drawing conclusions from evidence or principles.

Truth

Whether a statement accurately reflects reality.

Logical validity

Whether a conclusion logically follows from premises.

Syllogistic reasoning

Deductive reasoning using premises to reach a conclusion.

Belief bias

Tendency to accept arguments that align with beliefs, regardless of logic.

Illusory truth effect

Repeated exposure increases belief in a statement’s truth.

Illusion of explanatory depth

Overestimating how well one understands complex phenomena.

Confirmation bias

Tendency to seek and interpret evidence that confirms existing beliefs.