Language and thought

Language and thought

1. 4 properties of language

   • Symbolic
   • Semantic
   • Generative
   • Structured

2. morphemes-smallest unit of meaning 50,000 in English, root words, prefixes, suffixes

   • semantics- meaning of words and word combinations
     • syntax- a system of rules for arranging words into sentences
   • phonemes smallest speech units 100 possible, English – about 40

3. cognitive revolution- Behaviourist focus on overt responses arguments regarding incomplete picture of human functioning. Empirical study of cognition – 1956 conference Simon and Newell – problem solving Chomsky – new model of language Miller – memory

4. development of human language- 1 year – first word similar cross-culturally – words for parents receptive vs. expressive language

   • 18-24 months – vocabulary spurt fast mapping over and underextensions
   • End of second year – combine words Telegraphic speech Mean Length of Utterance (MLU)
   • End of third year – complex ideas, plural, past tense

5. irrelevant info and functional fixedness-thinking of an object as only functioning in its usual way To overcome functional fixedness, you must think of the matchbox, tacks, and candle all functioning in new ways.

6. mental set-persistence in using strategies that have worked in the past. must think outside of the box

7. problem solving stratagies

   • Step 1: Preparation- identifying, separating, and defining.
     • Step 2: Production- generating possible solutions (hypotheses) by using algorithms and heuristics
       • Step 3: Evaluation- judging hypotheses in Step 2 against the criteria in Step 1.

8. behaviourist- believe that all learning is acquired step-by-step, through associations and reinforcements

   • nativist- learning the rules of language Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
     • interactionist- Cognitive, social communication, and emergentist theories