Introduction to Psychology Suzy Scherf Lecture 11: How Do We Think? Language

What is Language? Language is a system composed -

Components of Language

Phonology Sound structure of the language A ____________ is the smallest perceptual unit -

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

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

Morphology ______________ of the language A ____________ is the smallest language unit that Morphemes include stems and affixes Stems = 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 =

Morphology Some 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 language Word meanings pick out - Words are ___________ not _____________

Semantics No - Pidgins - Newport’s study of Chinese immigrants No consistent -

Semantics Pidgin 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.”

Semantics Disorders of Semantics: Anomia - Semantic dementia - Wernickie’s Aphasia

Language and the Brain - Wernicke’s Area

Language and the Brain - Wernicke’s Aphasia “Well this is …mother is away here working her work out o’here4 to get her better, but when she’s looking, the two boys look in the other part. One their small tile into her time here. She’s working another time because she’s 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 Wernicke’s Area Part of the brain that:

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

Syntax/Grammar Prescriptive Grammar: All languages related by ___________________ All languages related - No language more - Labov’s study of grammatical sentences

Syntax/Grammar Prescriptive Grammar: “My bank is awful” - “My bank are awful” - “My bank be awful” -

Syntax/Grammar Descriptive Grammar Includes: 1. Rules for combining morphemes 2.Word Order 3.Forming contractions 4. Implementing who did what to whom in a sentence

Syntax 1. Rules for combining morphemes: Darwin + -ian = Darwin + -ism = Darwin + -ian + -ism = Darwin + -ism + -ian =

Syntax 2. Rules for Word Order: She watered the plant. The plant was watered. The plant, she watered it. The plant watered her.

Syntax 3. Forming contractions: Yes he is coming.  Yes he’s coming. She said you are ready.  She said you’re ready. Yes he is!  Yes he’s! I don’t care what you are.  I don’t care what you’re.

Syntax 4. Implementing who did what to whom: He gave her some money. He gave her. He gave the money.

Syntax 4. Implementing who did what to whom: He touched her with the money. He touched her. He touched the money.

Grammar/Syntax Syntactic development seems - Creoles - Children interject -

Grammar/Syntax Examples from Hawaiian Creole: “Da firs japani cam ran away from japan come.” “Some filipine wok o’he-ah dey wen’ couple ye-ahs in filipin islan’.”

Language and the Brain - Broca’s Area

Language and the Brain - Broca’s Aphasia “Cookie jar …fall over …. chair …water …. empty.” (Goodlass & Kaplan, 1983)

Syntax and Broca’s Area Part of the brain that:

Pragmatics Using language appropriately In autistic individuals who develop language -

What is Language Designed to Do? Communication?

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

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

Descent of the Human Larynx allows for Speech

Is Language a Uniquely Human Adaptation? 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 Keyboard Iconic 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: Pink Patterson 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 Human Adaptation? Chimps and Gorillas appear to be able to:

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

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

Is Language a Uniquely Human Adaptation?

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 debilitating Incredibly canalized - Qualitative the same in all individuals -

What is Language For?