Language. Language. Language in non-humans. Structure of language. Chapter 9 pp

Transcription

1 Language Language Chapter 9 pp Definition: shared symbolic system for communication Human speech: eg. English language Sign language Animals: language or communication? Linguistic universals Semanticity Arbitrariness Flexibility of symbols Naming Displacement Productivity or generativity Language in non-humans Primates Early attempts to teach primates to speak were complete failure Washoe Gardner s treated her like a deaf child and she learned ASL using behavioral techniques Kanzi Bonobo chimpanzee that used symbols on tablet Conclusions Small vocabularies Concrete words Very simple grammar 3 Structure of language Language production and comprehension Structure RULES Grammar: rules to combine symbols into meaning Phonology: sounds into words Syntax: word order into sentences Semantics: communicate meaning Hierarchy Sounds words phrases sentences Phonemes: smallest units of sound Morphemes: smallest unit with meaning Sentence level: Surface vs. deep structure Pragmatics: social rules: how practical knowledge can be used to understand speakers and produce an effective response. 1

2 Language development Understand language by examining development 3 central questions Nature vs. nurture Continuous vs. discontinuous One course vs. many courses Language (pragmatic) development Birth: prefer sound of mom talking 5 weeks 4mo: cooing At the same time as social partner 4 12mo: babble Silent when partner is talking 6 18mo: words Comprehension before production Use gestures and facial expressions to communicate 18 24mo: vocabulary spurt 24mo+: 2+ word sentences Telegraphic speech; knowledge of syntax Phonetic sensitivity Babbling English language: different phonemes < 1 month old: Universal phonetic sensitivity = discriminate any consonant sounds 6-12 months old: Better discriminating native contrasts Function of experience Ability is recoverable Japanese speakers learn ra vs. la after 1 year Study Hindi: 5yrs! What is purpose of babbling? Gain control over muscles? Learn how to communicate? Language can be non-verbal Examine deaf children: Do they babble? Yes, deaf children babble with their hands! Purpose of babbling: Learn connection between sounds (or movements) and meanings communication! 2

3 How do kids learn words? Dare et al. (1996) Is language innate or learned? How do children match word to an object? Time: Hear word and see object at same time Reference: Look/Point at object when hear word Method: child looks at object Word played Or adult points at object and says word Infants understood only when adult also looks/points at the object supports reference hypothesis. Nativist (Chomsky) Innate language acquisition device (LAD) Localization of language in brain Behaviorist (Skinner) Reinforcement and imitation Gradual mastery Interactionist Combine innate capacity and social environment Grammar development Language and thought Do kids learn language by: Memorizing what they hear (learned) OR By learning the rules (innate) Steven Pinker s research 1 Wug + 1 Wug = 2 Wugs Innate device to learn the rules: Syntax: learn how to arrange words Morphology errors: overgeneralize rules Linguistic relativity hypothesis (Whorf, 1956) (p295!) Language shapes how we think and perceive Cross-cultural tests Boroditsky s research 3 adjectives for objects (e.g. key ) Adjectives consistent with grammatical gender German key : hard, heavy, jagged, metal, useful Spanish key : golden, intricate, little, lovely, shiny 3

4 Color-naming Language: Think: Is language innate or a learned process? What does Pinker suggest about this question? British participants Does language influence how you think? If yes, how so? Berinmo participants Review: Language Structure of language (vocabulary) Development of language Phonetic sensitivity How kids learn words Why do kids babble? Is language innate or a learned process? Grammar development Pragmatic development Concepts Thinking involves forming new mental representations by manipulating available information Involves concepts, images, schemas and scripts Concepts Categories we form that consist of mental representations of related items Natural concepts everyday experience Artificial concepts ideals and abstractions 16 4

5 Concepts: Defining category membership Family resemblance theory Core features of a category that all members might have but not all will have Bird feathers, beak, eggs Prototype theory Best, most typical member of a category Bird - Different geography, different prototype Exemplar theory Make judgments by comparing to memories New bird is compared to memories of previous birds Better job because it has both general and specific 17 5