Psych 1001 chapter 9 - language and thought

Functions of language

• convey thoughts of one person to another

• Supports creative and progressive social interaction - sharing ideas

• Facilitates thinking, problem solving and decision making

Processes of language

Language production

Language comprehension

Language production

Generate and express ideas through words or gestures.

Language comprehension

The ability to understand spoken, written, or signed language

Human language is…

Generative: we can automatically (on the fly) convey our ideas in sometimes novel ways

4 main areas of speech

• phonology

• Semantics

• Syntax

• Pragmatics

Phonology

Study of how sounds are put together to form parts of speech (words). Phonemes

Semantics

Study of the meaning of words or phrases in a language

Syntax

The system or grammatical rules used to combine words in particular orders

Pragmatics

Practical aspects of speech (timing, emphasis, body language)

Phonemes

The smallest distinctive sound units of speech. Don’t necessarily convey meaning.

Morpheme

Smallest unit of language that conveys meaning. May be a word or sound (e.g. cat, s = cats - two _____)

Lexical meaning

Dictionary definition

Metaphorical meaning

Context in which a word is used may change its meaning. e.g. its raining cats and dogs

Prevocal learning

2-4 months. Babies distinguish all phonemes they will later use for language; cooing (vocalization of vowel sounds)

Babbling

~6 months old. Meaningless experimental sounds preceding actual words. Bababa gagaga

One word stage

~1 year old. Utter single words (mostly nouns e.g. doggie)

Telegraphic speech

By 2 years. Simple two word sentences omitting all but essential words. Syntax consistent.

Pragmatics

By 3 years. Basic understanding of practical information regarding language. (E.g. pauses after sentences, raise voice for question)

Grammar

By 4 years. Basic rules of grammar. Understood without formal education (full sentences)

Nurture

• born with a blank slate

• Language learned through principles of learning (reinforcement)

• Reinforcers include praise or attention, then rewards for communicating ideas

• Skinner

Nature

• noam chomsky

• Ability to learn language is innate

• Humans are born with a language acquisition device - pre-wired ability to learn language

Interactionist perspective

Both nature and nurture important. Born with built-in ability, but quality of language in environment to which one is exposed to is important.

Critical or sensitive periods

• window of opportunity for learning language beyond which capacity for learning is greatly impaired or lost

• Early months and years very important

Aphasia

An impaired us of language

Broca’s aphasia

Deficiency in speech production, difficulty forming words and inability to speak with proper grammar. “Expressive” (or non-fluent) aphasia. Understanding of words remains intact. Damage to broca’s area located in left frontal lobe

Wernicke’s aphasia

Profound deficit in language comprehension and generating meaningful speech. “Receptive” or fluent aphasia. Major deficit in semantics (choice of words) not syntax. Damage to wernicke’s area in left temporal lobe near auditory cortex.

Amygdala

When speaking profanity

Right hemisphere

To understand figurative speech. Damage to this area results in literal interpretations.

Angular gyrus

Reading or sign language

Language definition

Our spoken, written, or signed words (symbols) and the ways we combine them.

Washoe the chimp (gardiners)

Taught to name objects in ASL. 161 signs total. Occasionally combined 2 signs. Swan = water + bird. Passes 68 signs to infant

Koko the gorilla (patterson)

ASL, 1000 signs, elephant baby = pinocchio + doll

Mental imagery

Internal visual representations of stored visual memories.

Spatial navigation

Picture location of things in your mind

Linguistic relativity hypothesis

• argues language determines our thoughts

• The more words we have available to us relating to an object or concept, the more detailed and complex our thoughts are about it. In the extreme, if we have no words to describe something, we have no thoughts about it.

Thinking involves…

Many cognitive processes: attention, working memory, monitoring, reasoning, planning of actions, etc

Cognitive control

The ability to direct thoughts and action in accord with one’s intentions. Essential for thinking, requires effort.

Executive function

The brains ability to exert control over mental processing to accomplish tasks. Involves the frontal lobe, develops with age.

Dysexecutive syndrome

Impairement of the mental ability to control and direct mental abilities. Affects ability to concentrate or focus, plan and carry out actions, or without responses when appropriate.

Problem

A situation or circumstance that must be overcome to reach a desired goal.

Defining the problem

First step is to determine exactly what the problem is. Some problems well-defined, some ill-defined.

Problem solving strategies

• trial and error

• Algorithms

• Heuristics

• Insight

Trial and error

Haphazard approach devoid of systematic reasoning, crap shoot. Something might happen to work.