ASP 320 Study Guide

How do Behaviorists think language is learned? How does the Behaviorist approach address the shortcomings of introspection? What are the main criticisms of the Behaviorist approach to language?

Behaviorists base their theory around infants observing and mimicking their models of others. Through this mimicking they'll learn the language because of the positive criticism and rewards. Cons of this, behaviorists consider cognitive mechanisms to be irrelevant and language is a verbal behavior.

What are Wernicke's and Broca's aphasias (assuming such pure aphasias exist)? What are the symptoms of each? Give examples where appropriate.

Broca's Aphasia: Paul Broca, this is the "non-fluent aphasia" speech is telegraphic, halting, labored and slow. Syntax and morphology are minimally produced. There is a difficulty finding words, comprehension is generally ok. Wernicke's Aphasia: "fluent aphasia" the articulation is unaffected, melodic contour unaffected, speech is semantically meaningless. Syntax and morphology occur- meaningless. Comprehension is usually impaired to some point.

Cerebellum and Spinal Cord Function

Cerebellum-voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech. The spinal cord- pathway messages sent between brain and body.

How do Generativists think language is acquired? How does the Generativist approach address the shortcomings of the Behaviorist approach? What are the main criticisms of the Generativist approach to language

Generativism is the theory or basis of generative grammar. Therefore, generativists base their theory around universal grammar, which contains the universal properties and is innate. In other words, Language experience triggers innate knowledge and sets language-specific parameters. Downside, linguists have failed to find and document universal characteristics of language, in particular, any uniquely human characteristics. However, generativism is also unfalsifiable, and a drawback about it is the redundancy in the learning.

What was Bill Greenough's "rat Disneyland" study, and why is it important to our understanding of the brain and development/learning?

He placed some rats in "rat disneyland", some in without it, and one in isolation. This was done to see if enrichment could stimulate new connective growth in adult rat's brains. It showed that it could, even as adults, as the rats in "Disneyland" had significantly more new connections neurologically than the others.

What was Eric Kandel's study with aplysia, and why is it important to our understanding of the brain and development/learning?

He proved that physical change happens in the brain when learning, because he conditioned dteh sea slugs and then cut them open to look for changes,and they were found.

What are the parts of a neuron and how does a neuron transmit information?

It's like a computer circuit, it includes: Nucleus, axon, synapse, cell body. It transmits information by a stimulus in the environment that activates a neuron. The neuron fires and an electrical charge is carried along the axon to the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters are then released and a signal is picked up by dendrites.

Experiment

Most well received method by science, may not reflect real-life situations or behavior, cause and effect.

Explain neural plasticity from a physiological point of view - what physiological changes can account for neural plasticity? How is neural plasticity relevant to language learning?

Neural plasticity is the brain's ability to create memory circuits for coding new information, and to adapt to changes in the environment or experience. The brain is still a muscle, so in order to prevent atrophy, one has to work their brain constantly. By working out the brain with constant supply of new information, it becomes faster at relaying the information or allowing for more information to be stored. In regards to language learning, learning a new language actually helps with growing and maintaining brain plasticity.The earlier that one learns a new language can allow for rapid memory formation. The connection? The more foreign languages we learn, the faster the brain is in responding and processing data.

List and define the 5 components of language.

Phonology- sound systems (phones, phonemes, allophones) Syntax- how words are arranged; gives meaning Morphology- structure of the meaningful unit of language (morphemes) Semantics- the meaning of words and phrases Pragmatics- how language is used; direct vs indirect; literal vs nonliteral

Communication

Process of exchanging information, ideas, needs, and desires. -Senders and receivers required -Complexity: need to take into account the mental state of receiver

Diary Study

Single child, can only study one thing, allows look at things over time- (longitudinal)

What is the Poverty of the Stimulus argument? Do the criticisms/assertions made in the argument stand up to empirical evidence? Explain.

The poverty of the Stimulus is an assertion that natural language is unlearnable given the relatively limited data given to children learning the language.

Language

The systematic and conventional use of sounds,signs, or written symbols for the purpose of communication or self expression.

Speech

Verbal means of communicating

Frontal Lobe Function

executive function, decision making, controlling impulses

Five Lobes of the brain

frontal, parietal, temporal, Occipital, Cerebellum and Spinal Cord

Temporal lobe function

language and hearing

Population Study

look at characteristics of populations

Corpus Study

similar to diary studies but often w/ multiple subjects being recorded

parietal lobe function

spatial orientation

occipital lobe function

vision