Cognition Unit 6: We are here Algorithms Heuristics Biological Factors Representativeness Heuristic Compensatory Models Problem Solving Techniques Decision Making Techniques Availability Heuristic Unit 6: Cognition Obstacles to Problem Solving Obstacles to Decision Making Biological Factors Acquisition and use of Language We are here Cognitive Factors Cultural Factors

The “jewel” in the crown of cognition Language The “jewel” in the crown of cognition

Language can be…..

Language Facts 1. Linguists estimate that 6800 languages exist in the world today. 2. Only 600 languages have speaking populations robust enough to support their survival past the end of the century. Languages need at least 100,000 speakers to survive the ages 3. 66 percent of the world’s children are raised as bilingual speakers. 4. Only 6.3 percent of U.S. residents are bilingual. 5. 1/3 of the world’s languages originated in Africa

Language development How many words do you think you know now? Probably around 80,000. After age 1 you average about 13 words a day.

All languages contain…. Phonemes How many meanings can you make by varying the vowel phoneme between B and T? The smallest units of sound in a language. English has about 44 phonemes. Chug has three phonemes, ch, u, g. bat, has three phonemes b · a · t 869 Phonemes exist in the world. How many phonemes does platypus have?

Answers Bait, bat, beat/beet, bet bit, bite, boat, boot, bought, bout, and but. The consonant phonemes carry more information. The treth ef thes stetement shed be evedent frem thes bref demenstretien.

All languages contain…. Morphemes The smallest unit of meaning Can be words like a or but. Can also be parts of words like prefixes or suffixes…”ed” at the end of a word means past tense. How many morphemes in the word “cats”? Milk = milk Pumpkin = pump . kin Unforgettable = un · for · get · table 869 Phonemes exist in the world.

Structuring Language Phonemes Morphemes Words Phrase Sentence Basic sounds (about 40) … ea, sh. Morphemes Smallest meaningful units (100,000) … un, for. Words Meaningful units (290,500) … meat, pumpkin. Phrase Composed of two or more words (326,000) … meat eater. Sentence Composed of many words (infinite) … She opened the jewelry box.

Grammar Grammar is the system of rules in a language that enable us to communicate with and understand others. Grammar Semantics Syntax

Syntax Is this the White House or the House White? The rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences In English, adjectives come before nouns, but not in Spanish/French! Is this the White House or the House White?

English “She at an apple” Japanese “She an apple ate”

Semantics The set of rules by which we derive meaning in a language. Semantic rule tells us that adding –ed to the word laugh means that it happened in the past.

Language Acquisition Stages that we learn language… Babbling Stage Holophrastic Stage (one word stage; 1 yr old) Telegraphic Speech Stage (2-word stage; 2 yrs old) After the telegraphic stage we get overgeneralization. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY baby talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqwzvtjeYBQ&feature=em-share_video_user joey tries to learn french

How do we learn language?

Social Learning Theory B.F. Skinner from the Behaviorist School Baby may imitate a parent. If they are reinforced they keep saying the word. If they are punished, they stop saying the word.

Chomsky’s Theory (Inborn Universal Grammar) We learn language too quickly for it to be through reinforcement and punishment. Inborn universal language acquisition device

Critical period No, childhood seems to represent a critical period for mastering certain aspects of language Once the critical period is over mastering the grammar of another language is very difficult When a young brain does not learn language its language-learning capacity never develops.

Does language influence our thinking?

Whorf’s Linguistic Determinism The idea that language determines the way we think. The Hopi tribe has no past tense in their language, so Whorf says they rarely think of the past.

Anecdotal Support 1984 “To destroy a people, destroy their language.” poet Joy Harjo Many bilinguals report they have a different sense of self depending on which language they speak (Matsumoto, 1994) English has a rich vocab for self-focused emotions such as anger While Japanese has more words for interpersonal emotions such as sympathy

We create when we have need Skiers have different words for snow Powder, corn, and ice Computer Revolution I hate that my hardware won’t run the new software I’m going to google it I’m just going to word process instead of IM’ing my friends or updating Myspace. You see, I’m really depressed that my Ipod won’t log on to Itunes. Experience shapes language.

We don’t think in words, when: Thinking in Images To a large extent thinking is language-based. When alone, we may talk to ourselves. However, we also think in images. We don’t think in words, when: OBJECTIVE 15| Discuss the value of thinking in images. 1. When we open the hot water tap. 2. When we are riding our bicycle.

Images and Brain Imagining a physical activity activates the same brain regions as when actually performing the activity. Jean Duffy Decety, September 2003

Do animals use language?