Download Language

Language is common to all humans; we seem to be “hardwired” for it. Many social scientists and philosophers say it’s
this ability to use language symbolically that makes us
human.
Language is made up of socially shared rules that include the
following:
 What words mean (e.g., "star" can refer to a bright object in
the night sky or a celebrity)
 How to make new words (e.g., friend, friendly, unfriendly)
 How to put words together (e.g., "Peg walked to the new
store" rather than "Peg walk store new")
 What word combinations are best in what situations
("Would you mind moving your foot?" could quickly change
to "Get off my foot, please!" if the first request did not
produce results)
What is language?
 A system for communicating with others using
signals that are combined according to rules of
grammar and convey meaning.
 Grammar ---- set of rules specifying how the
units of language can be combined to produce
meaningful messages.
 With language---- > we exchange information ,
coordinate group action and form social bonds.
 Language is behavior which utilizes body parts: the vocal
apparatus and the auditory system for oral language; the
brachial apparatus and the visual system for sign
language. . . . Such body parts are controlled by none
other than the brain for their functions.
 A language consists of symbols that convey meaning and
rule for combining symbols that are created to form
messages.
 We can define language as a system of communication
using sounds or symbols that enables us to express our
feelings, thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Theories of Language Development

Behaviorist: According to Skinner we learn to talk through reinforcement,
shaping, etc. As infants vocalize it is reinforced. If they aren’t reinforced—the
vocalizations are extinguished.

Nativist Theory: the view that language development is best explained as an
innate, biological capacity.

Chomsky says we have an ability for language, language is best explained as
an innate, biological capacity.

He says the human brain is equipped with a language acquisition device (LAD) –
a collection of process that facilitate language learning.

Language naturally emerges as the infant matures as long as the infant receives
input to maintain the acquisition process.

Genetic Dysphasia: syndrome characterized by inability to learn the grammatical
structure of language despite having normal intelligence.

Interactionist Theory: parents tailor their verbal interactions with children in
ways that simplify the language acquisition process; they speak slowly,
enunciate clearly.
Language and the Brain
 Language tends to be processed in in two areas of brain:
 Broca’s Area: in left frontal lobe; involved in production; tough to
produce speech
 Wernicke’s Area: in left temporal lobe; involved in language
comprehension; produce speech but it is meaningless and tough
time comprehending speech
 Damage to these areas produces Aphasia: difficulty producing or
comprehending language.
 Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis
 The proposal that language shapes the nature of thought.
 Benjamin Whorf proposed this idea—