4.6 Language

Question 1

Components of Language

Answer 1

• Phonology
• Morphology
• Semantics
• Syntax
• Pragmatics

Question 2

Timeline of language acquisition

Answer 2

• 9 to 12 months: babbling
• 12 to 18 months: about one word per month
• 18 to 20 months: “explosion of lang” and combining words
• 2 to 3 yeas: longer sentences (3 words or more)
• 5 years: lang rules largely mastered

Question 3

errors of growth

Answer 3

child applies a grammatical rule in a situation where it doesn’t apply

Question 4

Nativist (biological) theory

Answer 4

• explains lang acquisition as being innate and controlled by the language acquisition device (LAD)
• credited to Noam Chomsky

Question 5

language acquisition device (LAD)

Answer 5

Theoretical pathway in the brain that allows infants to press and absorb language rules

Question 6

Critical period

Answer 6

btwn 2 y/o until puberty, if no language exposure occurs during this time, later training is largely ineffective

Question 7

Sensitive period

Answer 7

time when the enviro input has maximal effect on the dev of an ability. It’s before the onset of puberty

Question 8

Learning (behaviorist) theory

Answer 8

explains lang acquisition as being controlled by operant conditioning and reinforcement by parents and caregivers

Question 9

Social interactionist theory

Answer 9

explains lang acquisition as being caused by a motivation to communicate and interact with others

Question 10

Whorfian (linguistic relativity) hypothesis

Answer 10

the lens through which we view and interpret the world is created by lang

Question 11

Brain Areas involved in language

Answer 11

Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area

Question 12

Broca’s area

Answer 12

• Located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the frontal lobe
• controls the motor function of speech
• Damage → Broca’s (expressive) aphasia,

Question 13

Broca’s (expressive) aphasia

Answer 13

Speech comprehension is intact but will have a reduced or absent ability to produce spoken language

Question 14

Wernicke’s area.

Answer 14

• Located in the superior temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe
• Controls language comprehension
• Damage → Wernicke’s (receptive) aphasia

Question 15

Wernicke’s (receptive) aphasia

Answer 15

• Motor production and fluency of speech is retained but comprehension of speech is lost.
• Pt believe they are speaking and understanding well but the people around them are not able to comprehend them

Question 16

arcuate fasciculus

Answer 16

• Bundle of axons
• connects Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area; allows appropriate association btwn language comprehension and speech production
• Damage → conduction aphasia

Question 17

conduction aphasia

Answer 17

the inability to repeat words heard despite intact speech generation and comprehension