Speech and Language

Three Components of Speech and Language 1. Morphology: rules for combining words to form bigger words –e.g.: handi+cap vs. handi+cap+able 2. Syntax: rules for combining words to form sentences and phrases –e.g.: nouns+verb+direct object+indirect object 3. Phonology: rules for combining sounds to produce words, phrases, and sentences

Theories on Language Acquisition 1. Nativism: born with all the words and related morphology, syntax, and phonology that we will ever acquire 2. Generativism: born with the three, basic concepts but acquire words from experience –chunking 3. Motherese: learn words and the three, basic concepts from parents

What to Learn More About Language Acquistion? Steven Pinker is a professor at Harvard who is a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his books “How the Mind Works” and “The Stuff of Thought”

Brain Control of Speech and Language

Temporal and Occipital Lobes + Primary Motor and Sensory

Hemispheric Localization Language and speech centers primarily located in the left hemisphere

Neuroanatomical Hypothesis For This Hemispheric “Imbalance”

Conservation of Speech and Language Across Species

Damage to These Neural Centers Results in Aphasias TypeSpeech Skills Comprehensi on Ability to Repeat Area Damaged Broca’sNonfluent, cumbersome Mostly conserved ImpairedBroca’s area Wernicke’sHighly fluent, articulate Impaired Wernicke’s area ConductionFluent, semi- articulate Mostly conserved ImpairedLeft superior temporal and supramarginal gyrus GlobalNonfluentImpaired Perisylvian Fissure

Examples of Broca’s vs. Wernicke’s Aphasia Broca’s: “O, yea. Det’s a boy an’ a girl..an’…a…car….house..light po’….dog an’ a….boat. Ndet’s a ….mm..a…cofee, an’ reading. Det’s a…mm….a…det’s a boy fishin’” Wernicke’s: “Ah, yes, it’s, ah…several things. It’s a girl….uncurl…on a boat. A dog…is another dog…long’s…on a boat. The lady, it’s a young lady. This…a tree! A boat. No, over in here…a cake….

Neural Map of These Aphasias

Even Deaf Individuals Can Have Aphasias