è¿æ¯è¯è¨å¦çé¨åç¬è®°éç¹ï¼å¸æå¯¹ä½ æç¨ï¼Chapter 12 Psycholinguistics
The study of language in relation to the mind
P.S. some of the following discussed sometimes fall into the scope of neurolinguistics and sociolinguistics, esp. concerning the structure of the brain.
[A] The biological foundations of language
Human linguistic ability largely depends on the structure and dynamics of the human brain, rather than, the structure of the vocal cords.
Neuronsà cerebral cortexà hemisphere
Brain lateralization (specific to human beings): the left hemisphere has primary responsibility for language, while the right hemisphere controls visual and spatial skills as well as the perception of nonlinguistic sounds and musical melodies.
The localization of cognitive and perceptual functions in a particular hemisphere of the brain is called lateralization.
[B] Linguistic lateralization
Left hemispheric dominance for language, this hypothesis has been proved by Dichotic listening researchï¼ä¸¤è³åå¬è¯éªï¼
The sound presented in the right ear goes directly to the left brain. The sound heard in the left ear, on the other hand, must first go to the right hemisphere, from where it is transferred to the left side of the brain for processing.
Right ear advantage:ï¼å³è³ä¼å¿ï¼it appears to exist primarily for linguistic stimuli, both meaningful and nonsensical.
[C] The language centers
â Brocaâs area (French surgeon and anatomist): The frontal lobe in the left cerebral hemisphere damaged extreme difficulty in producing speech;
[Speech production deficit] word-finding difficulties and problems with syntax
â¡ Wernickeâs area (German physician, 1874): Strengthened Brocaâs claim, and generated intense interest in the hypothesis that different areas within the left hemisphere fulfill different linguistic functions
[Speech comprehension deficit] difficult in understanding speech (posterior speech cortex)
⢠The angular gyrusï¼è§å½¢èåï¼: It is responsible for converting a visual stimulus into an auditory form and vice versa
The word is heard and comprehended via Wernickeâs area. This signal is then transferred via the arcuate fasciculus to Brocaâs area (the angular gyrus), where preparations are made to produce it. A signal is then sent to the motor cortex to physically articulate the word.
⣠language perception, comprehension and production
[D] The critical period for language acquisition ß neurobiologist Eric Lenneberg
It refers to a period in oneâs life extending from about two to puberty, during which the human brain is most ready to acquire a particular language and language learning can proceed easily, swiftly, and without explicit instruction.
Language faculty of an average human degenerates after the critical period.
{Language can be acquired after the critical period.}
[E] Early views on language and thought
Mentalistà thought and language were identical, proposed by Plato
Empiricistà languages were signs of psychological experiences (Aristotle)
Bloomfield, American psychologist, founder of Behaviorism, supported the mentalist: thinking was a system of movements that had been reduced from actual speech to the point where they were no longer visible.
Violates the following two phenomena:
Non-speaking humansà display complex thought process
I didnât mean to say that
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: (the American anthropologist-linguist Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf)
âWe cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significance as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this wayâan agreement that holds throughout our speech community and is codified in the patterns of our language.â
Linguistic determinationâthe strong notion: Language determines thought
Linguistic relativismâspeakers of different language perceive and experience the world differently, i.e. relative to their linguistic background
This hypothesis appears plausible, but its strong version has very few adherents today.
Whorf did not only depend too heavily on the literal use of words but also on grammatical structure.
The weaker version is accepted. Language may be used to provide ideas, bring about a change in beliefs and values, solve problems, and keep track of things in memory. Language does influence the perceptions, memory tasks, and other verbal and nonverbal behavior of human beings by its convenience, availability, and habitual use.
[F] Argues for and against the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
â Words and meaning: Relation is arbitrary; without the particular words of snow doesnât mean he can not perceive differences in varieties of snowâ¦
â¡ Grammatical structure
Many grammatical features of a language are purely superficial aspects of linguistic structure. They donât have the kind of interdependent relationship with the perceptual system of the speakers of that language. (Grammatical gender)
⢠Translation
Successful translation between languages can be made.
That he (Sapir) can explain/describe Hopi concepts in English for an average English speaker to understand easily fully proves that translation can be obtained.
⣠Second language acquisition
Bilingualism: have a consistent conceptual-perceptual system of the physical world. Donât have to have double minds.
⤠language and world views
People who use the same language may have different world views.
People who use different languages may have the similar world views.
One language can describe many different world views.
[G] Understanding the relationship between language and thought
â functions of language:
Interpersonal communication: convey information, thoughts, feelings from one to another
Intrapersonal communication: language facilitates thinking, speech behavior, and action for the individual
Halliday: ideational, interpersonal and textual functions
a) Informative
b) Interpersonal function
(1) Performative function
(2) Emotive function
(3) Expressive function
(4) Phatic function
c) Recreational function
d) Metalingual function
â¡ Language and thought may be viewed as two independent circles overlapping in some parts.
When language and thought are identical or closely paralleled to each other, we may regard thought as âsubvocal speechâ, and speech as âovert thoughtâ
Nonverbal signals: facial expressions, grimaces, gestures, postures, or proxemic space can be used to express thoughts.
The relationship between the coding system of language on the one hand and the conceptualizing system of thought on the other is conventional rather than genetic. Bilingual speakers switch between the two languages concerned, not converting one mode of thinking into the other, but rather, making transition between the two linguistic coding systems.
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