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Initial Theory of Language
Questions Used to Generate Student Views
Initial Question
What is a language? What do we mean by the term “human language?” (For example, does it
include words? What else? What about facial expressions? … baby laughing or crying?)
1.
How does a child go about acquiring a language? Or is it acquired? This is another way
of asking whether language is learned or innate. It is about how language develops.
a.
Give some specific acquisition scenarios. That is, describe the observable
development of a typical child and
b.
for each aspect of development, tell what environmental or cognitive variables are
important
(for example, how does a child learn what dog means? ...how to say dog? ... how to make dog
plural? ... how to say “the dog chased the cat” instead of *“the chase cat the dog”. Be specific).
Culture doesn’t distinguish between language and other communication forms. Facial
expressions, tone of voice, emotional expression. Many forms of communication are innate,
but language?
Language game: parents & infants play. Parents point, name something, repetition, infants
acquire name. Imitation as a way of acquiring. This is how children learn to say dog.
Learning by example and correction… dog is corrected to dogs in certain situations. Mistakes
are corrected by adult. The dog chased the cat…. Imitation and modeling? “dog chase cat”
is corrected to “the dog is chasing the cat”. (expansions).l Learning, imitation, correction,
reward and punishment (ignored?). child needs to remember the words, the rewards, the
corrections.
1a: (added 10-17-07): Is the acquisition of language related to intelligence? (That is, do bright
children learn language faster and better than less intelligent children?)
in the cultural view, there is some connection seen between intelligence and acquisition of
languge. Language is acquired like other material and thus shows an intelligence effect.
Also, children with cognitive disorders will show language delay.
Psychologists espouse “principles of learning or behavior.” Are the learning principles
that govern the acquisition of language the same as those that govern, say the acquisition
of geometry (formally tutored) or composition or good manners (informally tutored)? Or
are they different? If so, how? Is learning language like a chicken learning to play the
piano (Skinnerian reinforcement and shaping: Skinner taught a chicken to play Yankee
Doodle on a toy piano using shaping)?
Language learning is a matter of shaping. The child says something inaccurate, the parent
corrects, reward an approximation, the child tries again, and successive approximations are
rewarded. Language is somewhat learned like geometry but NOT like geometry in that it is
constantly learned constantly used. A little formal and a little informal. No strong feelings
about how this occurs EXCEPT maybe shaping.
2.
3.
What knowledge is acquired when one acquires a language? What do you know that a
non-English speaker does not know? What does a French speaker know that you
(assuming you don’t speak French) do not know?
Confusing… connecting meaning to the sounds. We have the same basic knowledge aobut
the world, but different ways of expressing it. Our culture is less formal so we have more
slang, and French culture is maybe more formal. Cultural secrets. Different letters sound
different (Spanish), sentences are structured differently but specific to the language… so
people have knowledge of THEIR language.
4.
In terms of their structures, are there ways in which all languages are the same? Are there
any “universals” of language? Or is each language structurally unique? (this is not a
question about function (which of course is always communication) but about form or
struc.
A related question: All family vehicles (cars, vans, pickups, etc.) are basically the same (steering,
engine, suspension, dashboard controls, seats, etc.) although there are many superficial style
differences. The contrast here is between underlying similarities versus superficial differences.
On the other hand it is difficult to find any underlying similarities if one includes the whole class
of vehicles, from skateboards to ocean liners. Are human languages like family vehicles (just
superficial differences) or like the class of vehicles (little if anything common across all)?
Meanings and emotions might be the same, but the sounds and words might not be the same.
Some languages are similar (Chinese, Japanese, Romance languages) but Chinese and
English are very different. Meanings are the ONLY thing they have in common.
(maybe all have subjects and verbs). All essentially learned and processed in the same way,
and formed for the basic principles of understanding. Everyone recognizes that “that” is a
chair, but they all have a unique way of saying it. Order may be different.
Languages are like vehicles. Very little underlying similarity. We’re struck by the
DIFFERENCES across languages.
Word focus (neglect grammar) and words are arbitrary, it leads to the notion that there
is little universal across languages.
Languages is defined more broadly by the general culture than by linguists.
Also see question 9
5.
It is said that language is made of sound, meaning, and syntax. Characterize each.
Basic noise, doesn’t have to have meaning, meaning is the purpose or def to a particular word,
syntax….??????? Takes the sound and meaning and puts them together (there is a lot to be
said about sound that your informants can’t tell you)
6.
Are there animal communication systems similar to human language? If you answer yes,
tell what they are and how they are similar.
Yes: approval and disapproval, yes, no. dogs sniff each other and approve/disapprove
Animals have their own communication system, understood only by them. Their sound system
helps them survive. (note that language is being defined as any communication system).
Don’t have own language but speak more through tone (dog bark), wolves howl, crows,
birds, dolphins, whales.
They might be similar to human language is that they are innate.
7.
Are there any animals that can LEARN a human language? Or is this impossible? (Could
a chimp learn to use tag questions?)
For the most part no but maybe a parrot but it is just “parroting”. ?Monkeys learning to type
on computers. Did they teach a chimp sign language? It knew what it was talking about.
Gorilla taught sign language. Cockateel could learn words and use them appropriately… not
like a human but intelligently.
8.
Do languages vary in their complexity and well-formedness? For example, are there
primitive languages? (There are remote areas of the globe where humans live in
primitive cultures. Do they speak a simpler language?) [the term “primitive” here is not
meant in it’s pejorative sense. If you prefer, replace it with “simpler” or “less
developed”]\
Yes, languages do vary in complexity… even in English some use the language more
primitively (slang). Depends on the environment. the more complex the culture the more
complex the language. If you have a primitive culture you’re likely to have a primitive
language.
9.
How is language unique or special, compared to other cognitive activities or other
cognitive abilities (like memory, perception, attention)?
If you don’t have a language you can’t pas son or share those other abilities to others. More
complex than mem and perception and less universal. We see pretty much the same thing
around the world but language may be different. Also less universal than attention. Memory
isn’t learned but language is.
10.
The Italian cat question: an Italian cat would fully understand the communication system
of an American cat. The cat’s communication system is innate. Except for superficial
vocabulary and syntax differences, are English and Italian likewise “the same”?
Comparing cats: Yes to basic principles but the environment makes social differences But for
humans there are similarities but not really the same other than for communication. Cats all
greet by raising the tail but humans don’t have language universals like that.
How do we understand language? When we hear and successfully understand someone’s
statement or request, what are the mental operations we use? Give a scenario/story using
a specific statement, request, etc. For example, how do you come to know the meaning
of “The boy hit the ball.”
You hear it, recall and knowledge base to get definitions, word associations, and if the
sentence is structured right you are able to process it. Break it down into parts and then put it
all together.
11.
12.
How do we produce language? How do you turn thought into speech? Give a
scenario/story using a specific statement, request, etc. For example, how to do manage to
say “The boy hit the ball.”
Confused… there are no steps, like breathing, normal, you don’t have to explain to your
children how to speak. OR
Organize the though into words and put the pieces together… like putting together a puzzle
Sometimes with more complex words you do have to stop and think,
[the culture has a WORD focus… whereas linguists focus on structure]