PSYC 100B - Cognitive Psychology Language Definitions

Study Notes

Definition of Language

Language is a socially agreed-upon system of arbitrary symbols utilized for communication of ideas and feelings.
It involves rules that allow for the combination of symbols in various ways to convey meaning, applicable to both present and imagined contexts.
To qualify as a language in psychology, criteria include:
- Semanticity
- Generativity
- Displacement

The Three Criteria: Semanticity

Semanticity measures the capacity of communication to represent ideas, events, and objects meaningfully.
It emphasizes the importance of discrete meanings assigned to symbols or signals.
Higher semanticity correlates with the ability to convey a broader range of communication, exemplified by comparisons from honeybee dances to human language.
Vervet monkeys exhibit semanticity through distinct calls with specific meanings.

The Three Criteria: Generativity

Generativity refers to the capacity to combine words and symbols using syntactical rules to express a nearly infinite array of ideas from a limited vocabulary.
It facilitates the creation of complex ideas surpassing the meanings of individual words.
Music illustrates generativity through complex compositions, although it does not convey discrete meanings like language.

The Three Criteria: Displacement

Displacement allows communication about events or concepts not present in the immediate context, including discussions about past or future occurrences.
It enables reminiscing about past experiences, showcasing a hallmark of human language capability.

Linguistics

Linguistics encompasses the study of language rules.
Psycholinguistics is a subfield focused on language acquisition, comprehension, and production within cognitive psychology.

Phonology and Phonemes

Phonology involves the rules regulating sound patterns within a language.
Phonemes are the basic, distinguishable units of sound critical for differentiating words (e.g., "rice" vs. "lice").
Phonemes are distinct from letters, as not all languages recognize the same differentiated sounds, illustrated by the Japanese phonological system.

Morphology and Morphemes

Morphemes are combinations of phonemes that represent the smallest meaningful units of language.
Morphology studies how morphemes are structured and combined.
Types of morphemes:
- Free Morphemes: Standalone words with meaning (e.g., "book").
- Bound Morphemes: Meaningful only when attached to other morphemes, altering the base meaning (e.g., "engagement" consists of "engage" and "-ment").

Semantics, Syntax, and Pragmatics

Semantics pertains to the meanings assigned to words and the rules governing these meanings, addressing the relationship between words and their significance.

Description

Explore the foundational concepts of language as defined in PSYC 100B. This quiz focuses on understanding language as a socially constructed system of symbols and rules used for communication. Ideal for reinforcing key ideas in cognitive psychology.