Introduction to PsychologySuzy Scherf

Lecture 11: How Do We Think?

Language

What is Language?Language is a system composed -

Components of Language

Phonology Sound structure of the languageA ____________ is the smallest perceptual unit -

Phonology Universal set of____ phonemes for all languagesAny language only uses -Phonological development -

Phonology Disorders of phonology: Apraxia -Articulation disorders -Developmental phonological disorders -

Morphology ______________ of the languageA ____________ is the smallest language unit that Morphemes include stems and affixesStems =

Affixes =

Morphology Rules for combining morphemes makes new words:dance + -ed = strange + -er + -s = re- + align =warm + up = Some morphological relatives just memorized:go + past tense = eat + past tense =

MorphologySome languages have very extensive morphological systems (like 6000 variations of a single verb)Morphological development -

Morphology Disorders of morphology:Specific Language Impairment -Williams Syndrome -She remembered when she hurts herself the other day.Carol is cry in the church.

Semantics ___________ conveyed by words in the languageWord meanings pick out - Words are ___________ not _____________

SemanticsNo -Pidgins -Newports study of Chinese immigrantsNo consistent -

SemanticsPidgin in Hawaii spoken by immigrants:Me cape buy, me check make.Good, dis one. Kaukau any-kin dis one. Pilipine islan no good. No mo money.

SemanticsDisorders of Semantics:Anomia -Semantic dementia -Wernickies Aphasia

Language and the Brain -Wernickes Area

Language and the Brain -Wernickes AphasiaWell this is mother is away here working her work out ohere4 to get her better, but when shes looking, the two boys look in the other part. One their small tile into her time here. Shes working another time because shes getting to. So two boys work together and one is sneaking around here, making his work an his further funnas his time he had. (Goodlass & Kaplan, 1983)

Semantics and Wernickes AreaPart of the brain that:

1.

2. 3.

4.

Syntax/GrammarThe rules for -Important difference between:Prescriptive Grammar -Descriptive Grammar -

Syntax/GrammarPrescriptive Grammar:All languages related by ___________________All languages related -No language more -Labovs study of grammatical sentences

Syntax/GrammarPrescriptive Grammar:My bank is awful -My bank are awful -My bank be awful -

Syntax/GrammarDescriptive Grammar Includes:1. Rules for combining morphemesWord OrderForming contractions4. Implementing who did what to whom in a sentence

Syntax1. Rules for combining morphemes: Darwin + -ian = Darwin + -ism = Darwin + -ian + -ism = Darwin + -ism + -ian =

Syntax2. Rules for Word Order:She watered the plant. The plant was watered. The plant, she watered it. The plant watered her.

Syntax3. Forming contractions: Yes he is coming. Yes hes coming. She said you are ready. She said youre ready. Yes he is! Yes hes! I dont care what you are. I dont care what youre.

Syntax4. Implementing who did what to whom:He gave her some money. He gave her. He gave the money.

Syntax4. Implementing who did what to whom:He touched her with the money. He touched her. He touched the money.

Grammar/SyntaxSyntactic development seems -Creoles - Children interject -

Grammar/SyntaxExamples from Hawaiian Creole:Da firs japani cam ran away from japan come. Some filipine wok ohe-ah dey wen couple ye-ahs in filipin islan.

Language and the Brain - Brocas Area

Language and the Brain -Brocas AphasiaCookie jar fall over . chair water . empty. (Goodlass & Kaplan, 1983)

Syntax and Brocas AreaPart of the brain that:

1.

2. 3.

4.

Pragmatics Using language appropriately In autistic individuals who develop language -

What is Language Designed to Do? Communication?

Rhesus MacqueCommunication systems does have a finite set of sounds, but no rules to generate an infinite set of combinations of sounds

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?We alone among terrestrial mammals seem able to -

Descent of the Human Larynx allows for Speech

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?What about the ability to learn words and combine them to form sentences?

Why Study Language in Chimps and Apes?

Kanzi - Bonobo Chimp

Kanzi Learning to use a KeyboardIconic vs. Symbolic Gestures/Words

Chimp signing HUG

Chimp Signing APPLE

Koko - Gorilla

Koko Signing APPLE in Front of her Keyboard

Penny Patterson as interpreter

Question: Koko are you going to have a baby in the future?

Koko signs: PinkPatterson explains: We had earlier discussion about colors today.Interview with Koko

Question: Do you like to chat with people?

Koko signs: Fine nipple.

Patterson explains: Nipple rhymes with people, she doesn't sign people per se, she was trying to do a "sounds like..."

Question: Does she have hair? Or is it like fur?

Koko signs: Fine.Patterson explains: She has fine hair.

Question: Koko, do you feel love from the humans who have raised you?

Koko signs: Lips, apple give me.Patterson explains: People give her her favorite foods.

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?Chimps and Gorillas appear to be able to:

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?Chimps and Gorillas appear to be sensitive to:

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?Chimps and Gorillas are not sensitive to -

Is Language a Uniquely HumanAdaptation?

Evidence of Language as an Adaptation?Complex, specialized skill -Cultural artifacts vary widely in their sophistication across societies -Ubiquitous -

Evidence of Language as an Adaptation?Develops in all children spontaneously -Pattern of acquisition consistent in -Children not acquiring language by -

Evidence of Language as an Adaptation?Lack of language or lose of language incredibly debilitatingIncredibly canalized -Qualitative the same in all individuals -

What is Language For?