Introduction to Linguistics Lecture 3: Language realization in the brain – structure of language

Schedule today Language realization in the brain: Question 1: Are speech and language localized in the brain and if so, where? (well, YES, it is localized in the brain , so you already know the answer to the first question, but where?) Question 2: How does the brain encode (competence & acquisition) and decode (performance) speech and language? Question 3: Are the units of language structure – phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics separate components in the brain, and therefore vulnerable to separate impairments? Where do you find the information in your book: pp. 532-560

Remember YOU DON’T HAVE TO STUDY FROM YOUR BOOK, but you have the material in there (ALL OF IT) if you do want to study from your book. If you come to the lectures (which you should) and write down the notes properly, you can just study from the slides and your notes. So in other words – don’t worry, be happy 

Recap last week: Noam Chomsky Three models are central to the understanding of human language, and language needs therefore to be studied with these three components in mind (2) Performance (1) Competence (3) Language Acquisition

These three models… …address three different questions: What is the nature and structure of the human language? (competence) How is language put to use in thought and communication? (performance) How do language and our ability to use it develop? (language acquisition)

1) Language in the brain All three models directly dependent from the brain We can ask a question, which is more biologically oriented: How is language realized in the brain?

How is language realized in the brain? 3 questions: Are speech and language localized in the brain and if so, where? (well, YES, it is localized in the brain , so you already know the answer to the first question, but where?) How does the brain encode (competence & acquisition) and decode (performance) speech and language? Are the units of language structure – phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics separate components in the brain, and therefore vulnerable to separate impairments?

But first, ANOTHER QUESTION: IS LANGUAGE LOCALIZED IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEMISPHERE OF THE BRAIN?

Language realization in the brain

Question 1: is language realized in the brain

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain? Memorize 2 people: PAUL BROCA - 1860s - French surgeon - Anatomist

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain? 2) Carl Wernicke 1874 - Young German physicist - speech comprehension deficits

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain? APHASIA?

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain? Aphasia = language impairment due to an injury to the brain or a stroke There are two major impairments: - BROCA IMPAIRMENT (in the Broca area of the brain) - WERNICKE IMPAIRMENT (in the Wernicke area of the brain)

Question 1: Is language realized in the brain? YES

Language realization in the brain Video example – BROCA APHASIA language impairment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CJWo5TDHLE Broca’s aphasia is characterized by the loss to express oneself either through speech or writing. Hearing comprehension is not affected (so these people understand every single word you say).

Language realization in the brain Video example – Wernicke APHASIA - language impairment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CJWo5TDHLE Aphasia characterized by meaningless speech and severe impairment of the ability to understand spoken words

Language realization in the brain So we had 3 questions: Are speech and language localized in the brain and if so, where? (well, YES, it is localized in the brain , so you already know the answer to the first question, but where?) How does the brain encode (competence & acquisition) and decode (performance) speech and language? Are the units of language structure – phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics separate components in the brain, and therefore vulnerable to separate impairments?

Question 1 (is language realized in the brain, if so, where?) Yes, and they are located in the Broca area for production, and in the Wernicke area for comprehension

Question 2: How does our brain encode and decode language? ENCODE: COMPETENCE and ACQUISITION and LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION DECODE: SPEECH PRODUCTION and LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

Question 2: How does our brain encode and decode language? Other areas of the brain also participate in language acquisition, competence and speech production See next slide

Question 2: How does our brain encode and decode language? COMPLEMENTARY SPECIALIZED

Example: right handed or left-handed

Example: right handed or left-handed If you’re right-handed, then you will show the greatest hemispheric specialization If you’re left-handed, then it could be that you’re less specialized in just one hemisphere, but you use both more in order to encode and produce language and speech. BUT: the left hemisphere remains the most important part of your brain for encoding and decoding language.

Question 3: Are the components of language structure distinct elements in the brain? YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER: YES Production = Broca (phonetics, phonology, syntax) Comprehension = Wernicke (morphology, lexicology, semantics) But, we’ve got two more that can give us insight into the specific units in our brain

Question 3: Are the components of language structure distinct elements in the brain? Conduction aphasia: example video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx03JocIa6w Conduction aphasia – when the person has a problem transmitting his competence in the Wernicke area of the brain to performance in the broca area of the brain (but both of them are there)

Question 3: Are the components of language structure distinct elements in the brain? Anomic aphasia: the person has difficulty finding words (lexicology, morphology and even syntax is affected) – Wernicke area and Broca area When they are presented with clues, they can retrieve their name When they are offered the actual object, then they can say the name immediately Example: next slide

Example Anomia Examiner: Who is the president of the United States? Aphasic: I can’t say his name. I know the man, but I can’t come out and say….I’m very sorry, I just can’t come out and say. I just can’t write it to me now Examiner: Can you tell me a girl’s name? Aphasic: Of a girl’s name, by mean, by which weight, I mean how old or how young? Examiner: On what do we sleep? Aphasic: Of the week, er, of the night, oh from about 10.00, about 11.00 o’clock at night until about uh 7.00 in the morning

Question 3: Are the components of language structure distinct elements in the brain? Answer: Yes, if there are different lesions/aphasias in the brain, that means that different functions in the brain are in charge of different components of the structure of language