Language Overview n Definitions n Language within social

Language

Overview n Definitions n Language within social and cultural contexts n Linguistics (structure of Language) n Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language n Language Acquisition n n Learning Theories Biological Theories n Language in Nonhumans n Social Interaction Theories

Defining Language n Set of symbols that convey meaning n Often expressed with gestures

5 Major Properties of Human Language is creative – n Language is Structured – n Language is Meaningful – n Language is Referential – n Language is Interpersonal -

Language within a Social Context n The meaning of language changes as a function of social situation. n Consider the word ‘Goodbye’:

Language within a cultural context n Cultural Context n Meaning of language varies according to culture. n Examples: n Words n Gestures

Language, Culture, and Thought n Worf Hypothesis: n Developed by Benjamin Whorf (1956) n Perceptions and thoughts determined by language. n Research fails to support this hypothesis

Language and Gender Stereotypes n Gender Stereotypes in the English Language

Linguistics n Psycholinguistics

The Structure of Language n Syntax n n n The way words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences Holophrases Telegraphese n Morphemes n The basic units of meaning in a language n Phonemes n n The smallest sounds that compose words in a language Infants have universal phonetic sensitivity

Semantics n Semantics: n The analysis of the meaning of language n Includes:

The Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Chomsky n language is innate n inborn “universal grammar” n Universal grammar is:

Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Chomsky § Reason for Language =

Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Evidence: § Physiological Brain Studies § Spontaneous Signing

The Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language When we study human language, we are approaching what some might call the "human essence, " the distinctive qualities of mind that are, so far as we know, unique to man. Noam Chomsky, Language and Mind

Language Acquisition Learning Theories Biological Theories

Language Acquisition - Major achievement - Distinguishes us from other species - Leads to advancement Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Language Acquisition: Learning Theories Learning Theory: § Operant conditioning n specific language behaviours are reinforced

Language Acquisition: Biological Theories n humans have an innate capacity to develop language n Language Acquisition Device (LAD):

Language Acquisition: Evidence for Biological Theories Brain Localization & Lateralization § Broca § Wernicke § Importance of left hemisphere

Language Acquisition Theories: Evidence for Biological Theories Learning Readiness: Lenneberg n humans are born with a grammatical capacity and a readiness to produce language n Critical Periods: n Criticisms:

The Critical Period Hypothesis n Critical period – a period in the development of an organism when it is particularly sensitive to certain environmental influences. Outside of this period, the same environmental influences have a weaker effect. n Example: Bird Song – baby white-crowned sparrows must hear adult song sometime between 7 th and 60 th day or will not learn the complete song.

Second Language Learning n In the first stages of learning a second language, adults appear more efficient than children n After one to two years, very small children speak the new language fluently – this is much less common in adults n Study by Johnson & Newport (1989) examined second language learning and found that the older the subjects when they first learned the second language, the less well they learned it.

Late Exposure to a First Language n Perhaps older learners don’t get worse at language learning, but rather their knowledge of their first language interferes with acquisition of a second language

Newport (1990) n 3 groups of participants: n n n Individuals exposed to American Sign Language (ASL) from birth Individuals exposed to ASL between 4 -6 years of age Individuals exposed to ASL after age 12 n Tested at Age 50 n Results:

Is the Critical Period Specific to Language? n The notion of a critical period seems fairly plausible – n Perhaps children are better at picking up any and all complex skills of which language is only one

LANGUAGE IN NONHUMANS

Language Studies with Chimpanzees n Results of studies of chimpanzees can be used to argue both for and against the idea that language develops naturally n Washoe was taught to make a large number of signs from American sign language n Sarah was taught words and sentences with magnetized plastic shapes

Studies with Chimpanzees n Lana learned to press computer keys with symbols representing words but was unable to manipulate grammatical relations

The Ape Language Controversy n Nim Chimpski was taught manual signing but her signed messages did not increase in length as children’s do n Limitations of Ape Language Research:

Social Interaction Theories n Early learning theorists took an unbending view of the role of reinforcement in language n Biological theories stressed the role of genetics in language development n Social interaction theories say neither the learning nor biological view is correct by itself n Language is part nature and part nurture