Language and ThoughtLanguageYou are AmazingFeatures of Language by Steven PinkerSlide 5Acquisition of LanguageSlide 7Slide 8Explanation of Language DevelopmentThinking and LanguageThinking and Language – Gender DifferencesSlide 12Slide 13Slide 14Doublespeak – Can you figure these out?Bilingual EducationThinking Without LanguageStudent ProjectAnimal Thinking and LanguageSo, can apes really talk?Language and Language and ThoughtThoughtModule 23Module 23LanguageLanguageThe most tangible The most tangible indication of our thinking indication of our thinking powerpowerUnique to humansUnique to humansEnables us to Enables us to communicate complex communicate complex ideasideasEnables us to retain and Enables us to retain and transmit the collective transmit the collective knowledge of civilizationknowledge of civilizationhelloHebrewappreciationHappy holidaysYou are AmazingYou are AmazingYou probably know about 80,000 words.You probably know about 80,000 words.From 1 year old to the time you From 1 year old to the time you graduated from high school, you learned graduated from high school, you learned about 5000 words each year.about 5000 words each year.Features of Language Features of Language by by Steven PinkerSteven Pinker1.1.Semanticity – sounds in human Semanticity – sounds in human language convey meaning (unlike language convey meaning (unlike coughing or clearing our throats) coughing or clearing our throats) 2.2.Arbitrariness – no inherent connection Arbitrariness – no inherent connection between symbols in a language and between symbols in a language and their meaning. The word “dog” has no their meaning. The word “dog” has no connection to an animal.connection to an animal.3.3.Flexibility of symbols – language Flexibility of symbols – language changes and grows. Cars used to be changes and grows. Cars used to be called automobiles.called automobiles.Features of Language Features of Language by by Steven PinkerSteven Pinker1.1.Naming – we assign names to objects and Naming – we assign names to objects and feelings. “I am word processing on my feelings. “I am word processing on my personal computer.”personal computer.”2.2.Displacement – language allows us to talk Displacement – language allows us to talk about the past or the future as well as the about the past or the future as well as the present.present.3.3.Productivity (also called generativity) – we Productivity (also called generativity) – we generate sentences rather than repeat them. generate sentences rather than repeat them. This is how Chomsky critiqued Skinner’s This is how Chomsky critiqued Skinner’s work.work.Acquisition of LanguageAcquisition of LanguageBabbling stageBabbling stageBabies practice pronouncing sounds.Babies practice pronouncing sounds.By around 10 months, it sounds like the native By around 10 months, it sounds like the native language.language.Acquisition of LanguageAcquisition of LanguageOne Word StageOne Word StageAt about 1 year, the child uses one syllable words At about 1 year, the child uses one syllable words to express something – “ma” “da” “ga” to express something – “ma” “da” “ga”Acquisition of LanguageAcquisition of LanguageTwo Word StageTwo Word StageAround their second Around their second birthday, children begin birthday, children begin to form two word to form two word sentencessentencesTelegraphic SpeechTelegraphic Speech – – mainly nouns and verbs mainly nouns and verbs in a sensible order – in a sensible order – “nice doggy” “big boy” “nice doggy” “big boy” “pretty baby” “need juice” “pretty baby” “need juice” “no nap”“no nap”Explanation of Language Explanation of Language DevelopmentDevelopmentSkinner – association, imitation, reinforcementSkinner – association, imitation, reinforcementChomsky – inborn universal grammar, brains Chomsky – inborn universal grammar, brains prewired, hardware and operating systemprewired, hardware and operating systemCognitive Scientists – we are able to quickly Cognitive Scientists – we are able to quickly statistically analyze aspects of human speechstatistically analyze aspects of human speechThe younger we learn a new language the better.The younger we learn a new language the better.Thinking and LanguageThinking and LanguageLanguage Influences thinking – Lee Language Influences thinking – Lee Whorf Whorf linguistic relativity hypothesis- different linguistic relativity hypothesis- different languages impose different conceptions languages impose different conceptions of reality on us and shape our sense of of reality on us and shape our sense of self.self.Thinking and Language – Thinking and Language – Gender DifferencesGender DifferencesGender and Language – true or false???Gender and Language – true or false???1.1.Men talk more than women.Men talk more than women.2.2.Men are more likely to interrupt women than to Men are more likely to interrupt women than to interrupt other men.interrupt other men.3.3.There are approximately ten times as many sexual There are approximately ten times as many sexual terms for males as for females in the English terms for males as for females in the English language.language.4.4.During conversations, women spend more time During conversations, women spend more time gazing at their partner than men do.gazing at their partner than men do.5.5.Nonverbal messages carry more weight than verbal Nonverbal messages carry more weight than verbal messages.messages.Thinking and Language – Thinking and Language – Gender DifferencesGender Differences6.6.Female managers communicate with more emotional Female managers communicate with more emotional openness and drama than male managersopenness and drama than male managers7.7. Men not only control the content of conversations, Men not only control the content of conversations, they also work harder in keeping conversations going.they also work harder in keeping conversations going.8.8.When people hear generic words such as “mankind” When people hear generic words such as “mankind” and “he,” they respond inclusively, indicating that the and “he,” they respond inclusively, indicating that the terms apply to both sexes.terms apply to both sexes.9.9.Women are more likely to touch others than men are.Women are more likely to touch others than men are.10.10.In a