Chapter 7: Speech &
Language
Speech & Comprehension
Language:
Its Basic Nature
The Development of Language
Language in Other Species
Evolution, Language and
Thought
Speech and Comprehension
PComprehension: Temporal lobe - Wernick=s
Area
PProduction of Speech: Frontal lobe - Broca=s
Area
PPhonemes: Smallest unit of sound in a particular
language. Example: pit bit , pit pat
PMorphemes: The smallest unit of sound that
conveys meaning.
Defining Language
A language
is a set of symbols, usually
words, that convey meaning
Language
is often expressed with
gestures
Language
takes place in a social
context
Language
and culture are intertwined
Linguistics
Linguistics
is the study of language,
including speech, sounds, meaning,
and grammar
Psycholinguistics
is the study of how
language is acquired, perceived,
understood, and produced
Linguistics
Phonology
is the study of the patterns
and distribution of speech sounds in a
language, and the rules for their
pronunciation
Phonemes
are the smallest sounds that
compose words in a language
Linguistics
Morphemes
are the basic units of
meaning in a language
Semantics
is the analysis of the
meaning of language
Syntax
is the way words and groups
of words combine to form phrases,
clauses, and sentences
Sentence
Stephanie kissed the crying boy
Phrase
Stephanie
Word Stephanie
Kissed the crying boy
kiss
ed
or
Morphemes
Phonemes
f
u
n
e
the
t
cry
ing
boy
th
ng
oy
Linguistics
Grammar
is the linguistic description
of how a language functions
Grammar
deals with the rules used
for generating comprehensible and
appropriate sentences
Thought, Culture, and
Language
Culture has a great influence on language
and thought
People who believe in role and genderspecific abilities are likely to apply those
beliefs to their language and decision making
Bilingualism promotes cognitive flexibility
The Biological and Evolutionary
Basis of Language
Chomsky
suggested that language is
innate
He
proposed humans have an inborn
universal grammar
Universal
grammar is an innate
mechanism that produces meaningful
sentences
Biological Theories
Chomsky and Miller assert that humans have
an innate capacity to develop language
This view states that humans are born with a
mental language acquisition device (LAD)
The LAD allows children to pay attention to
language and ultimately use it
Evidence for Innate Structure of
Language
PUniversal rules of development and errors
PLanguage acquisition devise!
Prepared: to attend, to differentiate, to converse, to hear.
PCritical period for language development
PAttention to language (mimics)
PUniversal Phonetic sensitivity
Universal Phonetic Sensitivity
Dr. Janet Werker, Psychology,
UBC
Bl Vrs Lb Hindi and Salish speech sounds
discriminate
discriminate
Before 9 months did
After 9 months didn=t
Evidence from
Development
Prepared
Have be in a speech environment
Overextension is universal and there is
no model
Grammar or Rules within a given
language (indicating how words can be
combined into meaningful sentences)
is acquired in a universal sequence and
at the same stage of development
Language Studies with
Chimpanzees
Results of studies of chimpanzees can be
used to argue both for and against the idea
that language develops naturally
Washoe was taught to make a large number
of signs from American sign language
Sarah was taught words and sentences with
magnetized plastic shapes
Studies with Chimpanzees
Lana learned to press computer keys with symbols
representing words but was unable to manipulate
grammatical relations
Nim Chimpski was taught manual signing but her signed
messages did not increase in length as childrens do
