Unit 9 – Language
Psyc 101 – Eva Zysk
Learning
- Language: consists of symbols that convey meaning for combining those symbols, according to rules of
grammar, that can generate an infinite variety of messages
Speech, hand gestures, body language, written language, animal communication (dolphins click,
monkeys call, etc.)
- Grammar: a set of rules that specify how units of language can be combined to produce a meaningful
message.
Structure
- Phonemes – smallest unit of speech in a language
that can be distinguished perceptually
- Morphemes – smallest unit of meaning in a
language
Words (e.g., content morphemes)
Root words (e.g., functional morphemes)
friend, ability, etc.
Combinations (adding prefixes and/or
suffixes) unfriendly, disability.
- Semantics – area of language concerned with understanding the meaning of words and word
combinations
Denotation – dictionary definition
Connotation – includes emotional overtones and secondary implications
- Syntax – a system of rules that specify how words can be arranged into phrases and sentences
- Phonological rules indicate how phonemes can be combined to produce speech sounds
- Deep structure: meaning of the sentence
- Surface structure: wording of the sentence
Theories
1. Behaviourist theories (nurture)
Skinner children learn through imitation, reinforcement, and other established principles of
conditioning.
Criticism parents don’t spend time correcting grammar, children generate more grammatical
sentences they ever hear, overgeneralizations are not predicted by behavioural theory.
2. Nativist theories (nature)
Chomsky humans have an inborn or “native” biological propensity to develop language
Language acquisition seems effortless
Developmental timing
Cross-cultural similarities
Optimal periods
Criticism does not explain how language develops (only
why), social factors play a role
Psyc 101 – Eva Zysk
Learning
- Language: consists of symbols that convey meaning for combining those symbols, according to rules of
grammar, that can generate an infinite variety of messages
Speech, hand gestures, body language, written language, animal communication (dolphins click,
monkeys call, etc.)
- Grammar: a set of rules that specify how units of language can be combined to produce a meaningful
message.
Structure
- Phonemes – smallest unit of speech in a language
that can be distinguished perceptually
- Morphemes – smallest unit of meaning in a
language
Words (e.g., content morphemes)
Root words (e.g., functional morphemes)
friend, ability, etc.
Combinations (adding prefixes and/or
suffixes) unfriendly, disability.
- Semantics – area of language concerned with understanding the meaning of words and word
combinations
Denotation – dictionary definition
Connotation – includes emotional overtones and secondary implications
- Syntax – a system of rules that specify how words can be arranged into phrases and sentences
- Phonological rules indicate how phonemes can be combined to produce speech sounds
- Deep structure: meaning of the sentence
- Surface structure: wording of the sentence
Theories
1. Behaviourist theories (nurture)
Skinner children learn through imitation, reinforcement, and other established principles of
conditioning.
Criticism parents don’t spend time correcting grammar, children generate more grammatical
sentences they ever hear, overgeneralizations are not predicted by behavioural theory.
2. Nativist theories (nature)
Chomsky humans have an inborn or “native” biological propensity to develop language
Language acquisition seems effortless
Developmental timing
Cross-cultural similarities
Optimal periods
Criticism does not explain how language develops (only
why), social factors play a role
