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