Thinking and Language

Thinking  Another name for thinking is cognition which is defined as all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.  Within cognition we form concepts which is a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, and people  In concepts we can set up prototypes or mental images that represents the concept the best  Another name for thinking is cognition which is defined as all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.  Within cognition we form concepts which is a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, and people  In concepts we can set up prototypes or mental images that represents the concept the best

Confidence  People should be confident with their mental capabilities but sometimes can misjudge by showing overconfidence.  Within thinking people can display intuition or an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning.  People should be confident with their mental capabilities but sometimes can misjudge by showing overconfidence.  Within thinking people can display intuition or an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning.

Framing  Framing is the way an issue is posed – how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.  Examples: percentages, statistics, surveys and charts  Framing is the way an issue is posed – how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.  Examples: percentages, statistics, surveys and charts

Language  Language is defined as our spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning.

Language Structure  The smallest distinct sound unit is referred to as a phoneme.  Example: Bat B, A, T – Chat Ch A T  The smallest unit that carries meaning is a morpheme which may be part of a word or a word itself  Example: Preview (Pre)  The smallest distinct sound unit is referred to as a phoneme.  Example: Bat B, A, T – Chat Ch A T  The smallest unit that carries meaning is a morpheme which may be part of a word or a word itself  Example: Preview (Pre)

More Parts of Language  Language must have a system of rules called grammar  Semantics is the set of rules in which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language; also the study of meaning – Example: ed means in the past  Syntax is the series of rules for combing words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language  Language must have a system of rules called grammar  Semantics is the set of rules in which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language; also the study of meaning – Example: ed means in the past  Syntax is the series of rules for combing words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language

When Do We Learn Languages  Beginning at about 4 months, infants experience the babbling stage, in which they spontaneously utter a variety of sounds  Around their first birthday, babies enter the one-word stage in which a child speaks mostly in single words  At about 18 months, children enter the two-word stage in which a child speaks in two- word segments  This is also referred to as telegraphic speech in which the child sounds like a telegram NEED JUICE, WANT OUT  Beginning at about 4 months, infants experience the babbling stage, in which they spontaneously utter a variety of sounds  Around their first birthday, babies enter the one-word stage in which a child speaks mostly in single words  At about 18 months, children enter the two-word stage in which a child speaks in two- word segments  This is also referred to as telegraphic speech in which the child sounds like a telegram NEED JUICE, WANT OUT

Language Development  B.F. Skinner – We learn language based off of imitation  Noam Chomsky - Believes language naturally occurs and that it is prewired through a language acquisition device   B.F. Skinner – We learn language based off of imitation  Noam Chomsky - Believes language naturally occurs and that it is prewired through a language acquisition device 

The Brain and Language  Aphasia – impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)  Broca’s area – controls language expression – an areas of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech  Wernicke’s area – controls language reception – a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe  Aphasia – impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)  Broca’s area – controls language expression – an areas of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech  Wernicke’s area – controls language reception – a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

The Brain and Language

Languages Influence on Thinking  Linguistic determinism: the theory that language determines the way we think.  Images, cartoons, and captions can influence how we think  Linguistic determinism: the theory that language determines the way we think.  Images, cartoons, and captions can influence how we think

Animals and Thinking  