Language

1. Language

2. Overview • Definitions • Social and cultural contexts • Linguistics (structure of Language) • Language Acquisition • Learning Theories • Biological Theories • Social Interaction Theories • Video & Assignment #6

3. Defining Language • Language • Set of symbols that convey meaning • Often expressed with gestures

4. 5 Major Properties of Human Language • Language is creative – combine old words in novel ways • Language is Structured – structural principles underlying the way in which we combine words to make up new sentences • Language is Meaningful – purpose is to express meaningful ideas/concepts • Language is Referential – refers to the world of real things and events • Language is Interpersonal - use the utterance and its context as the basis for making inferences about the meaning and intent of the conversation

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

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

7. Language, Culture, and Thought • Whorf Hypothesis: • Developed by Benjamin Whorf (1956) • Perceptions and thoughts determined by language. • Research fails to support this hypothesis • Language influences rather than determines thought.

8. Language and Gender Stereotypes • Gender Stereotypes in the English Language • Powerful/important concepts/roles usually described as male • Logical, active, aggressive activities/characteristics usually described as male • Emotional, nurturing, passive activities/ characteristics described as female

9. Linguistics

10. Linguistics • Linguistics • The study of language including speech, sounds, meaning, and grammar • Psycholinguistics • The study of how language is acquired, perceived, understood, and produced

11. Syntax The way words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences Holophrases (e.g. Milk; Up) Telegraphese (e.g. doggie bark) Morphemes The basic units of meaning in a language Phonemes The smallest sounds that compose words in a language Infants have universal phonetic sensitivity The Structure of Language

13. Semantics • Semantics: • The analysis of the meaning of language • Includes: • Individual words • Relationship between words • Context

14. Semantics in action: • Prays the Lord for the spelling chequerThat came with our pea sea! Mecca mistake and it puts you riteIts so easy to ewes, you sea. I never used to no, was it e before eye? (Four sometimes its eye before e.) But now I've discovered the quay to successIt's as simple as won, too, free! Sew watt if you lose a letter or two, The whirled won't come two an end! Can't you sea? It's as plane as the knows on yore faceS. Chequer's my very best friendI've always had trubble with letters that double"Is it one or to S's?" I'd wineBut now, as I've tolled you this chequer is grateAnd its hi thyme you got won, like mine. `—Janet E. Byford

15. Language Acquisition Learning Theories Biological Theories Social Interaction Theories

16. Language Acquisition • Major achievement • Distinguishes us from other species • Leads to advancement Nature vs. Nurture Debate (again!)

17. Language Acquisition: Learning Theories Learning Theory: • Operant conditioning (reinforcement and punishment) and social/observation • specific language behaviours are reinforced

18. The Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Chomsky • language is innate • inborn “universal grammar” • Universal grammar is: an innate mechanism that produces meaningful sentences

19. Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Chomsky • Reason for Language = Adaptation

20. Language Acquisition: Biological Theories • humans have an innate capacity to develop language • Language Acquisition Device(LAD): hypothetical structure that exists to facilitate the learning of language • The LAD allows children to pay attention to language and ultimately use it

21. 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

22. Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Language Evidence: • Physiological Brain Studies • Spontaneous Signing

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

24. Language Acquisition Theories: Evidence for Biological Theories Learning Readiness: Lenneberg • humans are born with a grammatical capacity and a readiness to produce language • Critical Periods: children develop grammar and learn the rules of language up to age 13

25. The Critical Period Hypothesis • 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. • Example: Bird Song – baby white-crowned sparrows must hear adult song sometime between 7th and 60th day or will not learn the complete song.

26. Second Language Learning • In the first stages of learning a second language, adults appear more efficient than children • After one to two years, very small children speak the new language fluently – this is much less common in adults • 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.

27. Late Exposure to a First Language • 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

28. Newport (1990) • 3 groups of participants: • 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 • Tested at Age 50 • Results: the later in life the individual learned ASL, the less proficient they were in using it

29. LANGUAGE IN NONHUMANS

30. 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

31. The Ape Language Controversy • Nim Chimpski was taught manual signing but her signed messages did not increase in length as children’s do • Limitations of Ape Language Research: • Studies report isolated anecdotes • Researcher expectations

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

33. VIDEO: GENIE - THE WILD CHILD • THINK ABOUT THE THEORIES WE”VE JUST DISCUSSED: Learning, Biological, and Social Interactionist • Try to determine which theory the work with Genie supports. Keep in mind the critical period hypothesis

34. Assignment #6 • What do you think was the main point made in the movie? How is it important for our understanding of human language? Which theory of language acquisition we’ve covered does the work with Genie best support? Give reasons for your answer. • This is a group project. Discuss your ideas and then choose one person to write up the response. Everyone should check the final product. • Remember to include everyone’s full name and student # as well as my name, class section, date and assignment #6.