Language and Thought

problem solving

trying to achieve one goal

how many methods of problem solving are there?

4

trial and error

you have no idea how to solve a problem and you are randomly trying to solve it

what are the advantages and disadvantages to trial and error?

adv. better than not trying at all

dis. you may never solve the problem at hand

algorithms

is a step-by-step procedure to solving a problem that covers all possible solutions to the problem

what are the advantages and disadvantages with algorithms?

adv. if there is a solution, you will find it

dis. very time intensive, trying to solve this problem may take hours or even days

hypothesis testing

going to make an educated guess about what we think the solution is, then we test that theory

what are the advantages and disadvantages of hypothesis testing?

adv. good theory = less time

dis. your hypothesis can be wrong; need to revalue your hypothesis

heuristics

short cuts in problem solving; could have worked in past but there is no guarantee it will work now

what are the two problems in problem solving?

representative heuristic and availability heuristic

represntative heuristic

making decisions based uonpon seemingly probable characteristics and not accurate information ('“gut feeling”)

availability heuristic

making decision based upon the frequency of examples occurring in memory, analyzing memory to make a decision

language structure

the organization of words (both spoken and written) into meaningful segments (phrases or sentences) using conventions of grammar and syntax

what is the lowest level of the language structure?

phonemes

what is the highest level of the language structure?

pragmatics

phonemes

individual units of sounds; almost a full alphabet but not the same

morphemes

the smallest units of meaning in a language

grammar

in a language, a system of rules that enables us to communicate with and understand others

syntax

sentence structure

semantics

the set of rules by which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language; also, the study of meaning

pragmatics

highest social rule of using language, manners, tone, your way of talking

language development

vocabulary, grammar, and metalinguistic awareness

prelinguistic

(less than 12 months) cooing, babbling, crying; you can distinguish between the sounds

one word communication (holophrase)

(12 months) concrete nouns that have a large meaning; always one word. mostly nouns with some verbs

what is the average amount of words an 18 month should know?

75 words

two-word communication (telegraphic)

(24 months) not going to see adjectives, some words are too abstract; just nouns and verbs (ex. “da ball”)

language explosion

(30 months) you can no longer dictate their vocabulary