Download Explaining Language Development

Explaining Language Development
- B.F. Skinner
o Operant Conditioning
 Born with innate ability for language – however, we
acquire language through interactions with others:
 Associations
 Imitation
 Reinforcement
- Noam Chomsky (Linguist)
o Inborn Universal Grammar/ Language Acquisition Device
 Once grammar switches are thrown learning new
grammar (another language) becomes difficult
 Our brain constrains how we learn language – it
comes pre-wired to look for certain grammatical
rules
 Gradual changes in network connections can occur
based on experience
Language Influences Thinking
- Whorf’s Hypothesis – Linguistic Determinism
o definition - language determines the way we think
o Learn a language, learn about a culture.
 Ex. English vs. Japanese, view of death
Can we think without language?
- Ideas precede words
o We often think in images and not words
 Athletics
 Music
 Mental Rehearsal for academics
Thinking affects our language, which then affects our thoughts.
Do animals think?
- Multiple studies suggest that they do:
o Monkeys and double take
o Caged chimp and sticks
o Learning through reinforcement
 Forest-dwelling chimps with tools and termites
Were able to find at least 39 local customs related to tool use.
Do animals learn language?
- study with honey bees
o straight line of dance = direction in relation to the sun,
o duration = distance
Communicate, but not through language.
Human language may have evolved from gestured
communication.
o hard to talk without hands
o Koko, sign language
Skeptics/Critics:
o limited vocabulary, great difficulty
o just operant conditioning or language
o use phrases interchangeably, do they really know what
they mean?
o Trainers may use perceptual set to make ambiguous
information meaningful – are they making more than it is