Init. Lang. Theory

08c27c8d4d82f599ad367ec80a87452b.doc Initial Theory of Language Questions Used to Generate Student Views

Initial Question What is a language? What do we mean by the term “human language?” (For example, does it include words? What else? What about facial expressions? … baby laughing or crying?) Communication, including all of the above. Words, baby laughing crying, facial expressions, written things, other types of nonverbal communication, body position and tension, gestures, nonverbal and verbal

1. How does a child go about acquiring a language? Or is it acquired? This is another way of asking whether language is learned or innate. It is about how language develops. a. Give some specific acquisition scenarios. That is, describe the observable development of a typical child and Words are acquired, ability to develop language skills is innate, the specific language is learned. Babies naturally cry… not learned. Gestures and nonverbal cues are innate, forming sounds to create words is learned through imitation (children USE language to get what they want or need, so they may not use or learn all of it, learn first the words you need and other words come along later. Parents sometimes have to encourage “use your words”… instead of whining or crying). Imitation, mimicking, sounds words, grammar, repetition, modeling, Parent may may say “say dog” 14 times… correction for misnaming, if use grammar wrong they are redirected, desire to HAVE a language is innate but specific language is not (raised by wolves) might just be grunts and moans… communication is innate but language is learned, parents use reinforcement

b. for each aspect of development, tell what environmental or cognitive variables are important interaction w/ someone who knows the language (especially properly knows the language… warsh, I’m going to learn you this), positive supportive environment, SES is important, less poverty, more books, more attention to learning the language. A certain basicl level of competence is needed, but THEN working with the child can help. Some disagree that SES is important. What is the role of SES? If books and better teachers, there is better language learning. Education system is important.

How does a child learn what dog means? ...how to say dog? ... how to make dog plural? ... how to say “the dog chased the cat” instead of *“the chase cat the dog”. Be sure to address each of these, and be specific. Learning the meaning: See dog, and someone says “dog, dog”. Learn to say dog by hearing it… someone says the word dog and points to dog… copying, mimicking, practice, trial and error. Grammar: be encouraged to say the words first, then work on structure with adults giving them ideas: this is a dog, he’s doing this, this is a cat, she’s doing this, child eventually pieces the parts together. Learn through experience, pattern recognition for the structure; taught the rules of sentences structure by the parent. Reinforcement plays a role… if they say it right then they get reinforced…. Telling them it is wrong, stickers, positive social, just understanding what they are saying. First learning the concept of dog and then associate the word with it

1a: (added 10-17-07): Is the acquisition of language related to intelligence? (That is, do bright children learn language faster and better than less intelligent children?) 8/12 say yes. Cause & effect might be in doubt. They will pick up on things quicker. (it can be overshadowed by poverty or other factors). No: could be language influencing IQ. May be counterexamples (Einstein was dyslexic). There are people who are not intelligent but love language (brain damage). Intelligence is dependent on environment, so acquisition also would depend on environment. Disagreement of opinion. There may be a correlation but through a 3rd variable of environment. Facebook posts may reveal intelligence. Being able to imitate well might lead to faster language acquisition. This class dissents from the idea that smarter children learn language faster.

2. Psychologists espouse “principles of learning or behavior.” Are the learning principles that govern the acquisition of language the same as those that govern, say the acquisition of geometry (formally tutored) or composition or good manners (informally tutored)? Or are they different? If so, how? Is learning language like a chicken learning to play the piano (Skinnerian reinforcement and shaping: Skinner taught a chicken to play Yankee Doodle on a toy piano using shaping)? What about learning language in a school setting versus learning language before schooling begins… are they different? If so, how? Example: learning Spanish naturally v. learning Spanish in school. Shaping may be a factor. Formally tutored is more important for written language. What proportion of language is learning BEFORE SHCOOLING BEGINS v. AFTER SCHOOL BEGINS? A lot of informal learning is social (like manners, being polite) whereas formal learning is the more difficult stuff (spelling, rules of spelling, I before e, apostrophe use, don’t end a sentence w/ a preposition). Before school is more modeling and in school it is more typical reward. Many members of the culture don’t know about reinforcement and shaping. Before schooling you learn the basics and then it’s refined in school. . Language should start off informal and move to formal

3. What knowledge is acquired when one acquires a language? What do you know that a non-English speaker does not know? What does a French speaker know that you (assuming you don’t speak French) do not know? Definitions behind words or gestures, rules (how loudly to talk, how to address someone, where to put the subject in the sentence), culture and what is important, how to socialize, words/vocabulary slang… different languages have different slang terminology. When to say what… sounds… French has different soundscultural norms of what you talk about

4. (a) In terms of their functions (the purposes they serve), are there ways that all languages are the same? (b) In terms of their grammatical structures, are there ways in which all languages are the same? Are there any “universals” of language? Or is each language structurally unique? A related question: All family vehicles (cars, vans, pickups, etc.) are basically the same (steering, engine, suspension, dashboard controls, seats, etc.) although there are many superficial style differences. The contrast here is between underlying similarities versus superficial differences. On the other hand it is difficult to find any underlying similarities if one includes the whole class of vehicles, from skateboards to ocean liners. In terms of both function and structure, are human languages like family vehicles (just superficial differences) or like the class of vehicles (little if anything common across all)? a. Purpose: communication, information, all use symbols, way of organizing thought b. Little in common across languages; content may be similar; all languages re different enough to be like all vehicles

5. It is said that language is made of sound, meaning, and syntax. Characterize each. sound: Use a lot of sounds to make words; vowels and consonants; Japanese might use different sounds to mean X. acoustics tone of voice can convey meaning meaning: significance of words, sends the message you are trying to convey, the purpose of using language word choice and word order convey meaning; individual difference in interpretation syntax: organization of language, construction of words into sentences; rules for structuring sentences; you learn something about syntax in school but not for sound and meaning consciously learned in school but sound and meaning just picked up during childhood. Lmay not know what syntax is one of the big differences among languages

6. Are there animal communication systems similar to human language? If you answer yes, tell what they are and how they are similar. Body language… birds puff up, so do cats, anger and threat are often detectable in other animals; you can tell what a horse is thinking from body language; chimps and apes hug like humans, get loud when angry (universal dolphins vocalize, bats use high pitched squeaks, cats purr,

How similar: connected to emotion as is much of our body language; the two are similar in display rules; we use expressions related to animal communication (puppy dog eyes, bare your teeth some people can read turtles

7. Are there any animals that can LEARN a human language? Or is this impossible? (Could a chimp learn to use tag questions?) Learn to UNDERSTAND human language; did the attempt to teach sign language work? Parrots: teach them to mimic speech… but do they understand? Other species can learn our language through repetition and correction … monkeys and parrots but not all animals but do animals understand the meaning of words? Kind of like babies? Animals can understand but not speak

Many know about chimps being taught English

8. Do languages vary in their complexity and well-formedness? For example, are there primitive languages? (There are remote areas of the globe where humans live in primitive cultures. Do they speak a simpler language?) [the term “primitive” here is not meant in it’s pejorative sense. If you prefer, replace it with “simpler” or “less developed”] Some languages that are less complex than others: don’t have people to study the languages, making the rules more consistent. If you don’t have as many things you need fewer words (for e.g., computer, car, car engine parts Some languages might not have rules or as strict a set of rules. xxx 9. How is language unique or special, compared to other cognitive activities or other cognitive abilities (like memory, perception, attention)? We can share it with others, window to the mind; more social; can be taught (we’re born with a memory system, attention system), can learn more than one. A fair number of people just can’t react to this. Dd language involes all the other cognitive functions… precise/concise but objective unlike memory can faulty, misremember or not remember, individual differences in perception.

10. The Italian cat question: an Italian cat would fully understand the communication system of an American cat. The cat’s communication system is innate. Except for superficial vocabulary and syntax differences, are English and Italian likewise “the same”? 3 no, 4 yes; related languages, you can translate. BUT every language has its own culturally based nuances, some things ARE untranslatable. Facial expressions can be universal (how many know that?) many other body language things are not innate such as kissing, bowing, eye contact… cats have a more innate system than humans

11. How do we understand language? When we hear and successfully understand someone’s statement or request, what are the mental operations we use? Give a scenario/story using a specific statement, request, etc. For example, how do you come to know the meaning of “The boy hit the ball.” ???? part of our culture? You take each word, retrieve its meaning, then put the words together in order. You have to pay attention to order. Many don’t know what to say. Our class feels people are pretty unaware of the psychological processes … nonverbal cues can be important, visual cues are important for learning what words mean, also repetition, shaping

12. How do we produce language? How do you turn thought into speech? Give a scenario/story using a specific statement, request, etc. For example, how to do manage to say “The boy hit the ball.” Retrieve the individual words, then follow the rules of English to order them. Many don’t know what to say. Young children may have to think more about e.g., word order than a proficient speaker….