Language Essay Ryan Butler Psychology 360 August 29, 2011 Professor Newlin LANGUAGE Have you ever wondered how we speak? How about why our communication is considered a language and other animal’s communication is not considered language? A wide range of beliefs exist on what defines language. Thus, by exploring the definition of language and lexicon, evaluating language’s key features, the four levels of language structure and processing, and the role of language in Cognitive Psychology, an understanding of what language is becomes clear. Let us begin by defining language and a term named lexicon. LANGUAGE AND LEXICON DEFINITION One big question, when the subject of language comes up, is exactly what language is. What …show more content…
of a word. Also, the Yerkes (2011) text defines Lexicology as a study focusing on the meaning of words. Thus, we see a lexicon as an area in the human brain which stores the meaning, and all aspects, associated with a word. However, to reach the point where a lexicon may be used language must be acquired. To acquire such a skill, one must master the four levels associated with language. FOUR LEVELS OF LANGUAGE To constitute what a language is, four levels of language structure have been established. Specifically, these levels of analysis include phenomes, words, sentences and texts. According to the Willingham (2007) text, phenomes are a small unit of sound which make up a word. A potential problem is if these words are mispronounced. For example, slang changes from one area to another. When a person is thrown a new word, it throws them off on the rest of the topic. If I say "I'm fixin to go downtown," some may only know "fixin" as literally fixing something and not preparing or getting ready as "fixin" means in this context. This non familiar use of a word may be confusing to oneself, but to the person saying the word, “fixin” is a lexicon built into a vocabulary. Accents of foreigners may be another potential barrier. By mishearing these phenomes and not understanding language due to this deficit, obtaining meaningful language is difficult. Words themselves, and specifically the separation of words, may be another potential barrier to language
Language is the the primary way of communicating with one another. This can be written or spoken.
Language is an incredibly powerful tool for communication and the words we use control the
Language is a method in which individuals communicate in order to get their opinion across to the listening party. Language is the tool which ideas can be conveyed in various ways. Typically, language is referred to verbal communication, however, it ranges to all methods of communication i.e. sign language.
Language can be defined as a means of communication through spoken sounds, written symbols, or hand and body gestures. Subject to this simple definition language is neither human nor animal exclusive, meaning that all living creatures use some form of language to communicate. Humans have created the most advanced system of language. Human language has advanced to include listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and visual representation. These components are known as the six language arts and while they are individual components they are as well interdependent. What you learn about one affects what and how you learn about the others.
There is no other natural type of communication quite like the system of human language. It consists of vocal sounds, written symbols, signs, and gestures. Human beings use these gestures, symbols, and metaphors for many different purposes such as expressing thoughts, providing information, giving instructions, and effectively negotiating amongst one another. Human language can express many things such as thoughts and feelings between two or more people and is the greatest necessity in human communications. In Philosophy in a New Key, Susan Langer writes “The development of language is the history of the gradual accumulation and elaboration of verbal symbols. By means of this phenomenon, man’s whole behavior-pattern has undergone an immense change from the simple biological scheme, and his mentality has expanded to such a degree that it is no longer comparable to the minds of animals.” Although other species are not without their own forms of communication, it is human language that is responsible for the success of the human species, in which makes human language unique to human beings. It is symbolic, intelligent and consists of writing, grammar, and abstract speech. Language is a main element that separates man from
Language is an essential part of our daily lives. Language is used to communicate with other people to meet our needs and satisfy our understandings. Everyone uses one language or another. Some have an advantage and are able to use
Language is an important component in discussing cognitive psychology. There are many different aspects to language that can be broken down to better understand its functions. Language can be defined as “An organized way to combine words to communicate” (O’Brien, lecture notes 2014). In addition language is a communication system that is unique to humans. It is also something that is learned as opposed to being biologically inherited (O’Brien, lecture notes, 2014).
Language is a cognitive function that most of us take for granted. It starts from early on, some say at conception, and it develops in complexity as we get older. It is an essential part of communication and without it its development would be greatly hindered. This natural process requires complex structures and reasoning, the bringing together of sounds and words to develop concrete ideas and thoughts. In this paper we will discuss the components of language and how it relates to cognitive processes.
Essentially, the field explores the cognitive processes that underlie the function, storage, and acquisition of language. While psycholinguists understand that language users are unique individuals that possess different linguistic repertoires, their primary aim is to research general patterns of behavior across the human mind. Those patterns could potentially illustrate the capabilities and biases of the human psyche and
The claim, humans are the only animal that can acquire language has been the subject of much debate as scientists have investigated language use by non-human species. Researchers have taught apes, monkeys, parrots and wild children with various systems of human-like communication. Thus, one might ask, what is human language? According to Ulla Hedeager, A universally accepted definition of language or the criteria for its use does not exist. This is one of the reasons for the disagreement among scientists about whether non-human species can use a language. In nature, researchers find numerous types of communication systems, several of which appear to be unique to their possessors, and one of them is the language of the human species. Basically, the purpose of communication is the preservation, growth, and development of the species (Smith and Miller 1968:265). The ability to exchange information is shared by all communication systems, and a number of non-human systems share some features of human language. The fundamental difference between human and non-human communication is that animals are believed to react instinctively, in a stereotyped and predictable way. Generally, human behavior is under the voluntary control,
Language is the major tool of acquiring knowledge. It is the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. Thoughts, on
Language is something that we need and use for everything in our lives. Language is, “a symbolic communication system that is learned instead of biologically inherited.” (O’Neil, 2006). Language is communication that is either written down or spoken in words or sentences. We need to have a good understanding of language to learn, work and for our normal lives. You need to know language to be able to communicate with other people. Language has structure and meaning, for example words and sentences. Language also had tone, pitch, pace and volume. There are several types of language, receptive language, expressive language, emergent language. Receptive language is how you receive and understand language and expressive language is how
Linguistics has impacted cognitive psychology as the quest to understand language acquisition and the structure of language itself is undertaken. Linguistics is a complex and multifaceted; it includes language structural patterns and language development (Barsalou, 2005). The process of language development is complicated and dense, as the study of language is examined; the role of cognition is inherently examined and analyzed. Sternberg (2006) also explores language as an innate process and presents the idea that humans are born ready for language as a biological and cognitive process.
70 years ago, Edward Sapir introduced a new concept of linguistics. He said that language moved on every time and then created their own forms and never static. Every word, every grammatical element, proverbs, sounds and accents configured which was changed slowly and this was the ways how a language could long lasting. This concept of language made the other linguists interested. The change of meaning could happen because of some reasons, according to Millet a meaning could change easily because of the
A range or system of symbols, qualities, or techniques constituting ameans of communication or expression, as any of the arts or crafts: awide vocabulary of textures and colours