Language Acquisition in Animals and Itard's Work
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Questions and Answers

What do pro-intelligence theorists believe about animals and language acquisition?

  • Animals can develop language skills on their own.
  • Animals are more intelligent than humans in learning language.
  • Animals possess a special innate ability for language.
  • Animals lack the necessary intelligence for complex language learning. (correct)

What is Chomsky's main argument regarding animals learning language?

  • The complex capacity for language would be used naturally by animals if present. (correct)
  • Human language is inferior compared to animal communication systems.
  • Animals require human intervention to develop any linguistic skills.
  • Animals have an innate grammar ability that is suppressed.

According to the content, what is a common view among empiricists about animals?

  • Animals have a comprehensive understanding of grammar.
  • Animals are devoid of intelligence that allows for language learning. (correct)
  • Animals cannot learn language due to lack of motivation.
  • Animals possess minimal intelligence only relevant to survival.

Which statement would likely be supported by rationalists regarding animals and language?

<p>Animals are born without an innate language ability. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about the capacity of animals for grammar-based language?

<p>Animals possess no significant capacity for grammar-based language. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of Itard's educational program for Victor?

<p>Socialization and language training (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What animal-like behavior did Victor exhibit before his education began?

<p>He made guttural, animal-like noises (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sound was Victor able to repeat that indicated progress in his speech training?

<p>Li (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did Itard face while trying to teach Victor speech?

<p>Victor could not associate speech sounds with language (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

From whom did Victor learn to say the phrase 'Oh Dieu'?

<p>Madame Guérin (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Victor's original name before Itard named him?

<p>The Wild Boy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the first words Victor learned related to his needs?

<p>Milk (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of environment was Victor later introduced to for speech training?

<p>An institute for the deaf (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What enables dolphins to understand new sentences according to the content?

<p>Understanding component words and their relations (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following demonstrates that dolphins can respond to commands they have never encountered before?

<p>Responding correctly to the sentence ‘person left frisbee fetch’ (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the dolphin's communication was notably researched by Herman?

<p>Ability to report the absence of objects (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the response of Akea to the question ‘Is there a frisbee?’?

<p>She signaled with a 'yes' or 'no' paddle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Herman justify that dolphins do not only exhibit stimulus-response shaped behavior?

<p>They demonstrate cognitive reasoning abilities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of questioning allowed Akea to showcase her understanding of commands?

<p>Simple binary questions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is highlighted in Herman's research regarding dolphin communication?

<p>Dolphins can signal both presence and absence of objects (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ paddles used for in the dolphin experiments?

<p>Answering questions about objects (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for language learning to take place in children?

<p>Early exposure to various forms of language (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which two factors significantly influence language learning success?

<p>Exposure to language and extent of non-linguistic trauma (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why Victor's language learning progress could not be fully assessed?

<p>Lack of information regarding his early life and exposure to language (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect regarding Victor's early life remains unknown?

<p>The intention behind his abandonment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does recent research suggest about the minimum intelligence required to survive in the wild?

<p>Above average or better intelligence is necessary (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What limitation applies to the understanding of Victor's language capabilities?

<p>A significant amount of trauma can affect language learning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What issue complicates the evaluation of Victor's language skills?

<p>Unknown variables surrounding his early exposure to humans (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about abandoned children and language learning?

<p>Early exposure to language is critical for successful language acquisition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the Kelloggs in raising Gua together with their son Donald?

<p>To determine if a chimpanzee could learn language like a human child. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant observation did the Kelloggs report about Gua's ability compared to Donald's?

<p>Donald surpassed Gua in learning over time. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many spoken words, phrases, and sentences did Gua learn to respond to appropriately?

<p>95 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During the study, what aspect of Gua's communication was notably absent?

<p>Any form of verbal articulation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of environment was Gua raised in?

<p>An ordinary speech environment without specific language training. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What behavioral responses did Gua demonstrate in relation to spoken commands?

<p>She responded appropriately to various spoken commands. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the age difference between Gua and Donald?

<p>Donald was born first by three months. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What skill did the researchers note Gua had in comparison to Donald?

<p>Exceptional ability to learn by imitation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significant difference between Viki and Gua in terms of learning?

<p>Gua showed a much higher degree of learning compared to Viki. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the researchers focus too heavily on during their studies with Viki?

<p>Speech production (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Gardners choose to teach sign language to Washoe?

<p>Chimps do not possess the vocal apparatus necessary for human speech. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which chimpanzee was selected for language research after Viki?

<p>Kanzi (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the researchers train Kanzi and Mulika?

<p>By pointing to a keyboard while speaking in English. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about chimp language learning based on the comparison of speech comprehension and production?

<p>Speech comprehension is usually ahead of speech production. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one possible factor affecting Gua’s degree of learning?

<p>Gua's interaction with her sibling, Donald. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words could Viki reportedly say?

<p>mama (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Novel Sentence Comprehension

The ability to understand and respond to new sentences based on learned grammar and vocabulary.

Stimulus-Response Learning

A type of learning where an animal learns to perform a specific action in response to a specific stimulus.

Words

A basic element of language that conveys meaning, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Sentence Structure

The arrangement of words in a sentence, which determines the meaning.

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Word Relations

The ability to understand the relationships between words in a sentence, such as subject-verb agreement and object-verb agreement.

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Imperative Sentence

A type of sentence that expresses a request or command.

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Question Sentence

A type of sentence that asks a question.

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Absence Comprehension

The ability to understand and respond to the absence of something, such as a missing object.

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Pro-intelligence theory

The theory that animals are capable of learning language if given the proper environment and instruction.

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Innatist theory

The theory that animals lack a specific innate ability for language, which is genetically determined.

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Chomsky's argument against animal language

The idea that animals would have evolved the ability to use language if it provided a survival advantage.

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Grammar-based language

The ability to use grammar rules to construct meaningful sentences.

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The language learning debate

The debate about whether animals lack the intelligence or the specific innate ability to learn language.

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Language learning

The process of learning to understand and use a language.

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Language learning: Early exposure

The idea that exposure to language is essential for learning it, and the earlier the exposure, the better.

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Factors influencing language learning

Factors affecting language learning include the age at which a person starts being exposed to a language, and the trauma experienced before language exposure.

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Critical period for language

A period in early childhood when a person is most receptive to learning a language, making language acquisition easier.

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Trauma and language learning

The negative impacts of early trauma, such as abuse or neglect, on later language learning.

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Case studies of language learning

Case studies like Victor, Genie, Isabelle, Chelsea, and Helen reveal how exposure to language and trauma influence language learning.

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Exposure to language

Exposure to language refers to the opportunities a person has to hear, see, or interact with a language.

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Trauma and development

The extent of trauma experienced by a child can negatively affect their overall development, including language learning.

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The 'Wild Boy' of Aveyron

The 'Wild Boy' of Aveyron was a young boy found in the woods of France, presumed to have lived on his own for years. His case fascinated scientists as it presented a unique opportunity to study language acquisition from scratch.

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Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard

Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard was a French educator who took on the challenging task of educating Victor, hoping to teach him language and social skills.

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Itard's education program for Victor

Itard's goal was not only to teach Victor language but also to socialize him and make him aware of the world. He implemented a program that included games and activities to achieve this.

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Challenges of teaching Victor language

Victor's language training was a frustrating experience for Itard. It started with teaching Victor to repeat basic sounds and words, but Victor's ability to understand and use language was limited.

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Victor's early vocalizations

Victor’s early vocalizations mostly involved guttural sounds and animal-like noises. Even though he had no prior language exposure, he learned to distinguish speech sounds from other sounds.

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Victor's progress in speech

Victor eventually learned to repeat simple sounds like 'li' and 'Oh Dieu!' (Oh God!). This marked some progress in his language acquisition, showing his capacity for learning.

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Victor's case and language acquisition

Victor's case demonstrated that language acquisition is a complex process. Even with intensive training, a person raised in isolation may face significant challenges in developing normal language abilities.

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Animal Language Research

The study of how animals, particularly chimpanzees, learn language, focusing on whether they possess the inherent capacity for language acquisition.

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The Kellogg Experiment

A research study involving a chimpanzee named Gua raised alongside a human child, Donald, to observe if Gua could acquire language through similar social interaction and experiences.

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Similarities in Upbringing

The method of studying animal language by exposing them to the same environment and social interactions as human children to see if they develop language skills similarly.

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Gua's Learning Abilities

Gua, the chimpanzee in the Kellogg experiment, showed exceptional learning abilities by imitating behaviors but struggled to verbally produce words despite exposure to spoken language.

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Gua's Speech Comprehension

While Gua could not verbally communicate words, she demonstrated comprehension of spoken words and phrases by responding to commands with appropriate actions.

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The Kellogg Experiment Outcome

The Kellogg experiment failed to demonstrate that Gua could learn to speak words, despite the shared upbringing with Donald. This suggests that language learning might not be solely based on environmental factors.

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Washoe

Chimpanzee named by researchers who was taught sign language. Washoe was the first chimpanzee to be taught sign language.

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Washoe Project

A research project focusing on teaching sign language to a chimpanzee named Washoe. It aimed to investigate chimpanzee communication abilities and challenge the notion that only humans could learn language.

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Chimpanzee Vocal Apparatus

The inability of a chimpanzee to produce human speech due to the lack of necessary vocal apparatus. This was a key reason for researchers to explore alternative forms of communication like sign language.

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Animal Language Learning

The study of language learning in animals, particularly focusing on primates, and the debate surrounding their ability to learn and use language like humans.

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Viki

A chimpanzee named Viki who was one of the first subjects in attempts to teach human speech to chimpanzees. However, the experiment was largely unsuccessful, with Viki only acquiring a limited number of words.

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Gua

A chimpanzee named Gua who was raised in a human family setting as part of a research project to investigate language learning in animals. This study explored the extent to which Gua could learn and use language.

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Gua vs. Viki

Comparison of two separate studies involving chimpanzees, Gua and Viki. The studies highlight a significant discrepancy in learning outcomes between the two chimps, with Gua demonstrating greater learning capabilities.

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Speech Comprehension vs. Production

A type of language learning where the learner understands the meaning of words or symbols without necessarily being able to produce them. This was observed in both Gua and Viki, where their comprehension of language was advanced compared to their ability to speak or sign.

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Study Notes

Wild and Isolated Children and Critical Age for Language

  • People have always wondered if language is natural like walking or smiling, and if children can produce speech without experiencing language.
  • Ethical considerations prevent experiments on language deprivation in children, so scientists look for naturally occurring cases (e.g., feral children).
  • Feral children are those raised by animals (e.g., wolves, dogs, pigs).
  • Recent cases of Ukrainian children raised by dogs exist.
  • Victor, the Wild Boy of Aveyron, was discovered in 1800 in France.
  • Itard, Victor's educator, tried teaching him speech but failed.
  • Itard instead focused on perceptual training, with some success.
  • Genie, discovered at age 13, was isolated and mistreated since early childhood.
  • Genie made slow progress in understanding language, but achieved some improvement.
  • Isabelle, confined with a mute mother, demonstrated language learning after being discovered at age 6.5 years.
  • Isabelle showed significant progress in language ability, within months.
  • Chelsea, discovered at age 32, was initially misdiagnosed as retarded and deaf.

Animals and Language Learning

  • Some people wonder if animals can communicate like humans.
  • The dream of Dr Doolittle (speaking animal languages) represents this.
  • Animals in general, particularly great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans), have been studied regarding language.
  • Gua, a chimpanzee raised with a human child, did not develop language.
  • Viki, another chimpanzee, learned a few sounds and words.
  • Washoe, a chimpanzee, learned sign language.
  • Kanzi, a bonobo, understands and uses symbols.
  • Alex, an African Grey parrot, has learned to understand and use a large vocabulary.
  • Rico, a border collie, understands over 200 different words.

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Description

This quiz explores theories on language acquisition in animals, including pro-intelligence views and Chomsky's arguments. It also delves into Itard's educational program for Victor, examining his progress and challenges during speech training. Test your knowledge on the capacity of animals for grammar-based language and their unique learning experiences.

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