PSY 357 Unit 1

What is Pragmatics?

Social rules in language use

Behaviorists have a language theory called associative chain theory. Chomsky greatly argued against it. What does the theory claim?

Each word serves as stimulus for the next one. Makes sentence go left to right

What is Chomsky’s poverty of stimulus argument? What are two points of the argument?

Children do not learn enough from others to develop their language. They say grammar wrong. They learn sentences they haven’t heard before.

What is the argument of an Empiricist?

Language comes from experience

What is the argument of a Nativist/Rationalist?

Some language comes innately

What was Wilhem Wundt’s analytic introspection?

Describing mental processes while doing a task

What are the three major flaws of Wilhem Wundt’s analytic introspection?

Can’t be measured, very subjective, can’t prove someone wrong

How did John Watson study language?

Behavioral studies only

B.F. Skinner, who was Watson’s student, believed language was developed only through… (Hint: involves reinforcement)

Operant conditioning

Describe Chomskyan Linguistics:
1) Universal Grammar
2) Transformational grammar theory

1) Language is an inborn trait 2) Theory of the structure of language

What is the Derivational Theory of Complexity? What is a “transformation”?

Transformational grammar theory can predict what sentences will be harder for people to understand. A transformation is something that changes the sentence

What type of profession focuses on a tree diagram? (Ex: NP, VP…)

Linguist

What type of profession focuses on “boxes and arrows”? (Ex: Syntax → Semantics → Parse)

Psycholinguist

Define intuition, the rationalist/nativist research methodology.

Does the sentence sound right?

Define behavioral and physiological research methodologies, which are empirical.

Behavioral: Observed behaviors infer mental processes. Physiological: Relationships stimuli —> brain responses —> behavior

What are the three principles that causes human language to be productive?

Duality of patterning, discreteness, and recursion

What is a phoneme?

Shortest segment of speech sound that can change meaning of word if changed

What is phonology’s Duality of Patterning?

Phonemes can switch out to create huge number of meaningful symbols

What is a morpheme?

Smallest meaningful unit

Define the types of morphemes and give examples:

Free morphemes

Bound morphemes

Can exist on their own (help, kiss). Need to be paired with a free morpheme (-ful, -ed, mis-)

Describe these morphological rules:

• Inflectional

• Derivational

Changing form of word to fit word’s role in sentence. Combining morphemes so meaning or grammar is changed

True or false: Synax gives the highest degree of productivity.

True

What is Syntax?

Grammatical rules

In regards to Syntax, please describe which rule is made up of what:

S —>

NP —>

VP —>

S —> NP + VP. NP —> Det + noun. VP —> Verb + NP

Why can’t primates speak like humans can?

They don’t have vocal muscles to create phonemes

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Semanticity

Signs carrying meaning

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Arbitrariness

No inherent relationship between symbol and meaning

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Discreteness

No continuity of meaning

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Duality of Patterning

finite sounds, infinite combinations

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Productivity

Producing an infinite number of patterns and sentences

Describe Hockett’s properties of spoken human language:

Displacement

Ability to communicate abstractly (and not just the here and now)

Describe Washoe, the chimpanzee who was taught ASL. Could she use syntax?

Not explicitly taught ASL. Learned semantics. Knew 150-200 signs. Displayed productivity (“waterbird”). Could distinguish between who/when/where questions. Could use syntax but not as good as humans.

Describe Loulis, who was adopted by Washoe.

Was taught ASL by Washoe. No human interference.

Describe Nim Chimsky.

Tried to replicate Washoe.

Describe Kanzi the bonobo, who was studied by Savage-Rumbaugh.

Taught “lexigram” language and exposed to humans speaking English. Does she actually have evidence of syntax, recursion, and productivity?

True or false: Monkeys in the wild can practice displacement, duality of patterning, and syntax. This allows them to practice language like humans do.

False