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

1. Comprehension: Understanding spoken/written language.

2. Representation: How language is structured in the mind.

3. Speech Production: The physical and mental processes in language creation.

4. 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.