Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the smallest unit of sound in a language called?
What is the smallest unit of sound in a language called?
What term describes the phenomenon when children quickly learn new words after only hearing them a few times?
What term describes the phenomenon when children quickly learn new words after only hearing them a few times?
According to Nativist theory, what is essential for language acquisition?
According to Nativist theory, what is essential for language acquisition?
Which of the following is considered a barrier to effective problem solving?
Which of the following is considered a barrier to effective problem solving?
Signup and view all the answers
What process is referred to as transforming one situation into another to meet a goal?
What process is referred to as transforming one situation into another to meet a goal?
Signup and view all the answers
What do we call the method of making educated guesses to solve problems?
What do we call the method of making educated guesses to solve problems?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes the ability to easily learn second languages during childhood?
Which of the following describes the ability to easily learn second languages during childhood?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of nonverbal communication?
What is an example of nonverbal communication?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Language
- Language is a system of symbols, sounds, meanings, and rules that enables human communication.
- Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in language.
- Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in language.
- Phrases are combinations of morphemes.
- Sentences are strings of morphemes and phrases that convey thoughts or intentions.
Nonverbal Communication
- Nonverbal communication includes vocal intonation, body language (e.g., crossed arms), gestures, physical distance, facial expressions, and touch.
Language Development
- Infants start with 100 basic phonemes.
- Babbling occurs between 6-18 months.
- Children begin using words between 10-13 months.
- There's a vocabulary spurt around 18-24 months.
- Receptive vocabulary (understanding words) differs from productive vocabulary (speaking words).
- Fast mapping is a rapid way children learn new words.
- Over- and under-extensions are errors in word application.
- Overregularizations are grammatical errors in language acquisition.
Theories of Language Development
- Behaviorist view (B.F. Skinner): Children learn language by imitating and being rewarded for correct utterances.
- Nativist view (Noam Chomsky): Language acquisition is innate and universal, not solely based on learning.
- Interactionist view: Language development involves a combination of nature (innate abilities) and nurture (environmental influences).
Critical Periods for Language Acquisition
- Critical periods suggest that an organism must develop a function within a limited timeframe; otherwise, it may never develop.
- Children generally learn second languages more easily than adults do.
- Isolated children often have significant language impairments, as highlighted by cases like Genie.
Problem Solving
- Problem solving involves transforming a situation to achieve a goal.
- Problems can be well-defined (clear goals and steps to solve the problem) or ill-defined (vague goals or unclear steps).
- Strategies include algorithms (systematic procedures guaranteed to produce a solution), hypothesis testing (guessing and testing solutions), and mental simulation (rehearsing the problem in one's mind).
Barriers to Effective Problem Solving
- Irrelevant information can distract from relevant data.
- Functional fixedness is the tendency to think of objects only in their customary roles.
- Mental set is the tendency to solve problems in the same way that worked previously.
- Unnecessary constraints can hinder problem-solving efforts.
Approaches to Problem Solving
- Algorithms and heuristics (mental shortcuts)
- Forming sub-goals (breaking down the problem into smaller steps)
- Working backward (starting from the end goal and working backward)
- Searching for analogies (comparing the problem to similar problems)
- Changing the representation of the problem (reframing the problem statement)
Cognitive Biases
- Base rate fallacy: Ignoring the overall frequency of an event when making judgments based on specific instances (e.g., fear of flying vs. driving).
- Vivid events effect: Vivid, easily remembered events are overvalued in judgments about risk or frequency (e.g., deaths in Canada).
Regression Toward the Average
- Performance tends to return to a more average level after an extreme event (e.g., rookie athletes).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of language, including its structures, nonverbal communication, and developmental milestones from infancy to early childhood. This quiz covers phonemes, morphemes, and the stages of language learning in children. Test your knowledge on how babies develop language skills and the nuances of communication.
