CH. 11 CP
Brah in Hoch
There is evident communication between a father and son using language.
The study of language usage provides insights into mental processes.
Language
What is Language?
Definition: Language is a system of communication that uses sounds or symbols to express feelings, thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
The Creativity of Human Language
Humanity's language has a structure that allows creativity.
It's hierarchical, meaning small units can combine to form larger expressions.
The Universal Need to Communicate with Language
Language is a universal phenomenon found in all human cultures.
Instances such as deaf children creating their own sign language illustrate this need.
Children typically begin language development similarly across cultures.
Studying Language
The modern scientific study of language began with Broca and Wernicke.
Major Concerns of Psycholinguistics
Comprehension: Understanding spoken/written language.
Representation: How language is structured in the mind.
Speech Production: The physical and mental processes in language creation.
Acquisition: Learning languages at different stages of life.
Understanding Words: A Few Complications
Lexicon and Semantics
Lexicon: All known words (mental dictionary).
Semantics: The meaning of words; determining meanings is complex.
Word Frequency and Processing
High-frequency words are processed faster than low-frequency words.
Example: Eye tracking shows longer fixations on low-frequency words.
Variability in Pronunciation
People pronounce words differently; context helps comprehension.
Speech Segmentation
Words are usually not separated by silence in spoken language, making parsing complex.
Statistical learning helps in identifying word breaks.
Lexical Ambiguity
Words can have multiple meanings; context helps determine the meaning quickly.
Method: Lexical priming - accessing meanings based on prior context.
Dominance of Meanings
Some words have meanings that dominate in frequency; context affects which meaning is accessed.
Understanding Sentences
Parsing
Parsing is the process of grouping words into phrases to derive meaning.
Garden Path Sentences illustrate how initial interpretation can mislead.
The Garden Path Model vs. Constraint-Based Approach
Garden Path Model: Relies on syntactic heuristics for quick parsing decisions.
Constraint-Based Approach: Involves semantics and other contextual factors in parsing decisions.
Influence of Context on Parsing
Word meanings, story context, and scenes affect how we understand sentences.
Understanding Text and Stories
Making Inferences for Coherence
Readers construct coherence using inferences. Mainly three types:
Anaphoric Inferences: Relate to prior references in text.
Instrumental Inferences: Inferring tools based on context.
Causal Inferences: Determining cause-effect relationships between sentences.
Situation Models
Mental representations formed while reading that simulate real-world events.
Reaction times indicate the speed of understanding based on situation models.
Having Conversations
Given-New Contract
Speakers provide known (given) and new information in conversation.
Common Ground
Establishing shared knowledge enhances conversation flow.
Syntactic Coordination
Conversationalists often mimic each other’s grammatical structures, enhancing communication efficiency.
Music and Language
Similarities and Differences
Both involve structured sequences governed by syntax.
Music conveys emotions through sounds; language uses meaningful words.
Expectations in Music and Language
Both realms rely on anticipations about what follows, which is central to comprehension.
Brain Mechanisms
Overlapping brain areas are engaged in both music and language, yet distinct networks exist within these areas, indicating separate mechanisms.
Studies show that while performance deficits might indicate a connection, there are documented cases of isolated impairments in music or language capabilities.