1. The innateness Hypothesis 2. How languages process in the brain. 3 1.The innateness Hypothesis 2.How languages process in the brain? 3.Important areas in brain for language psycholinguistics
White plain brain or innate blueprint brain?
1. The innateness Hypothesis Introduction : Known as the founder of ‘Transformational Generative grammar’, Noam Chomsky’s theories were first introduced in the 1950s. Born on Dec 7th 1928 to well educated parents, Chomsky’s interest for Grammar is justified. His love for Hebrew and its grammar came from learning it from his father William Chomsky at a very young age. Before Chomsky , linguistic study focused mainly on performance (how people spoke). But after his arrival into the field of linguistics brain became an important aspect in language study.
The first step of Chomsky getting into the field of language study started when he took up the concept of Plato’s problem or poverty of stimulus which means-‘when the input is so meager why is the output so large?’. This led him to discover the concept ‘innateness hypothesis’ which says that humans are born with the ability of acquiring language. We have LAD that helps in the acquisition process. LAD is ‘Language Acquisition Device’ situated in the left hemisphere of the brain.
Universal Grammar- Chomsky is the founder of the opinion that every child is born with Universal grammar which helps the child to acquire the Language. Universal grammar contains principles and parameters. Principles are those which are common in all the languages of the world and parameters are those which differ from one language to another.
Examples : Jack went up the hill Who went up the hill Examples : Jack went up the hill Who went up the hill? Jack and Jill went up the hill Who went up the hill? Jack and Jill went home Jack and who went home? Jill ate strawberries and ice cream Jill ate what? Jill ate strawberries and ice cream Jill ate strawberries and what?
How can one explain the ease, rapidity and uniformity of language acquisition in the face of impoverished data? ( they do not start from scratch ) ( UG helps them to extract the rules )
White plain brain or innate blueprint brain?
2. Neurolinguistics: 1. How languages process in the brain. 2 2. Neurolinguistics: 1. How languages process in the brain? 2. Important areas in brain for language. Neurolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language and brain.
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The human brain:
The parts of the brain:
The localization view: The word is heard and comprehended via Wernicke’s area. This signal is then transferred via the arcuate fasciculus to Broca’s area where preparations are made to produce it. A signal then is sent to part of the motor cortex to physically articulate the word.
Speech Errors: 1. The tips of the tongue ( you know the word ) 2 Speech Errors: 1. The tips of the tongue ( you know the word ) 2. Slips of the tongue black bloxes make a long shory stor a tup of tea beel fetter * slip of the brain as it tries to organize linguistic messages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D33ccVnbHY
Aphasia: An impairment of language function due to localized brain damage that leads to difficulty in understanding and/or producing linguistic forms
I can’t talk all of the things I do 1. Broca’s aphasia: Production I eggs and eat and drink coffee breakfast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2IiMEbMnPM 2. Wernicke's aphasia: Comprehension I can’t talk all of the things I do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKTdMV6cOZw
References: Chapter 13 ( the study of language ) Chapter 8 ( An Introduction to Language )
Assignment Prepare a conversation with your classmate that includes slips and tips of the tongue. Be ready to read it aloud in class next week.