Human Language vs Animal Communication

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Questions and Answers

What is a key mechanism for acquiring language, as suggested by Pinker?

Reinforcement

Formal education

Social interaction

Observational imitation (correct)

What phenomenon occurs among deaf children who are not taught sign language?

They invent their own sign language. (correct)

They rely solely on written communication.

They refuse to communicate altogether.

They become completely mute.

What type of grammatical structures do children learn to use, as evidenced in the language experience?

Basic vocabulary words

Complex grammatical structures (correct)

Simple commands

Complex mathematical expressions

Which area of the brain is associated with Wernicke’s aphasia?

Wernicke's area Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of hearing a highly emotional story on the brain?

Increased activity in areas relating to emotion Signup and view all the answers

Which research supports the notion that children can develop language independently?

Goldin-Meadow & Mylander, 1998 Signup and view all the answers

What sort of mechanisms do imitation and observation contribute to in learning?

Language acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What type of evidence supports the theory of children inventing their own language?

Observational studies Signup and view all the answers

What did Susan Carey calculate about the average number of words children learn per day?

Nine new words Signup and view all the answers

Which species has shown greater success in language learning compared to common chimpanzees?

Bonobos Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of cognitive function did Greer et al. (2013) identify as problematic in language learners?

Attention and planning Signup and view all the answers

How do children infer the meanings of new words according to the example provided?

By associating sounds with objects Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between language ability and overall intelligence as suggested in the content?

Language ability is not the same as overall intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What were bonobos tested on to eliminate the possibility of 'Clever Hans'-type signals?

Responding to commands issued over earphones Signup and view all the answers

What did Noam Chomsky argue about children's language acquisition?

Children must begin with preconceptions Signup and view all the answers

What tricky command was mentioned in relation to testing language comprehension?

Take the vacuum cleaner outside Signup and view all the answers

What kind of aphasia does Patient A have?

Wernicke's aphasia Signup and view all the answers

Damage in which area of the brain typically leads to Broca's aphasia?

Frontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about children learning language?

Most children learn language even without parents teaching them. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Broca's aphasia?

Difficulties in language production Signup and view all the answers

What enables humans to learn language easily, according to the studies mentioned?

Inherent brain specializations Signup and view all the answers

What could potentially enhance language learning in children, as indicated in the content?

Genetic predisposition Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when damage in the brain extends beyond specific areas related to language?

Serious language impairment occurs. Signup and view all the answers

At what point do children typically begin to show language ability milestones?

Around six months old Signup and view all the answers

What is one disadvantage of bilingualism mentioned?

Bilingual children have a smaller vocabulary than monolinguals. Signup and view all the answers

How do bilingual individuals usually handle ambiguity in language?

They often use context to derive meaning. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a noted advantage of bilingualism?

Bilingualism enhances attention control. Signup and view all the answers

Why might bilingual children take longer to think of a word?

They often think in terms of both languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge that bilingual speakers face when switching between languages?

They experience confusion in noun number or verb tense. Signup and view all the answers

What are morphemes primarily concerned with?

Units of meaning in language Signup and view all the answers

What is the Malaysians' perspective on the word translated as 'we' in English?

They express confusion over its ambiguity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable effect of bilingualism still under debate by researchers?

The size of the effect bilingualism has on attention control. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes phonemes?

They are units of sound. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about bilingualism is NOT true?

Bilinguals typically have a larger vocabulary across languages. Signup and view all the answers

How does expertise in reading develop according to the content?

Due to years of practice and exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What can hinder the recognition of complex patterns in reading?

Lack of practice since childhood. Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'Contains no rat pieces!' suggests the use of which concept?

Morphemes in food labeling Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between reading and word recognition mentioned?

Expert reading leads to better pattern recognition. Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers specifically to the smallest units of sound in language?

Phonemes Signup and view all the answers

What supports the idea that complex patterns in language can be recognized almost instantly?

A high frequency of familiar vocabulary. Signup and view all the answers

What do readers of English and other European languages primarily rely on when identifying a critical letter?

Looking at the whole word Signup and view all the answers

In the Japanese writing system, what does each character represent?

A syllable Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect experienced when people can more easily recognize letters in words rather than isolated letters?

Word-superiority effect Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following combinations represents a phoneme?

COIN Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a characteristic of the Chinese writing system?

Each character represents a syllable Signup and view all the answers

What type of combinations do readers typically find challenging to identify compared to real words?

Nonsense combinations Signup and view all the answers

What common activity illustrates the word-superiority effect during long car trips?

Finding letters of the alphabet on billboards Signup and view all the answers

What accounts for the word-superiority effect?

Whole word recognition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language

Every animal species communicates, but only humans exhibit productivity—creating unlimited sentences.
Humans don't memorize sentences, but learn rules for sentence creation and comprehension.

Transformational Grammar

Transformational grammar describes a system for converting deep structure (underlying meaning) into surface structure (the words used).
Different surface structures can represent the same deep structure, or vice versa.

Nonhuman Language Precursors

Researcher Terrence Deacon discussed the communication of various animal species, focusing on the lack of human language's productivity.

Human Language Specialization

Humans are more equipped for language than other species.
Language development is not solely due to increased brain size, as other animals with larger brains don't develop similar language capabilities.
Some individuals without large brain sizes display exceptional language skills.
Language abilities are distinct, even in individuals with otherwise normal intelligence.

Language Learning

Children learn an average of nine new words per day from ages 1.5-6.
Chomsky proposed a Language Acquisition Device (LAD), a biological mechanism for acquiring language.
Deaf children often develop their own sign language systems.
The ability to learn a second language diminishes as we age.

Language and the Brain

Broca's area in the frontal lobe is crucial for language production, affecting speech. Defects in this area cause Broca's aphasia.
Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe is related to language comprehension. Damage to this area results in Wernicke's aphasia, impacting comprehension despite fluent speech.
Language is a complex process involving multiple brain areas beyond Broca's and Wernicke's areas.

Language Development in Early Childhood

Children exhibit various stages of language proficiency.
Babies vocalize and learn the sounds of their native language.
Two-word phrases are common by age two

Reading and Eye Movements

Reading involves rapid eye movements (saccades) and periods of fixation (stationary eye movements).
Eye movements are influenced by word length and difficulty.
People use context to understand ambiguous words.

Limits to Language Understanding

Doubly embedded sentences are complex and challenging to comprehend.
Multiple negatives, such as, "I would not deny that I don't like ice cream," are harder to process than single negatives.
Context plays a critical role in understanding language.

Word Recognition

Expertise in reading develops through years of practice, allowing for rapid and accurate word recognition.
The "word-superiority effect" shows that recognizing a letter within a word is faster than isolating it.
Word recognition depends on patterns and connections in the brain.

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Description

Explore the unique aspects of human language, including its productivity and complex grammar structures. This quiz delves into the elements that differentiate human language from animal communication, as well as insights from researchers like Terrence Deacon on language specialization. Test your understanding of these fascinating linguistic concepts.