LanguageLanguage

By

Angela Moss

Tanisha Flowers

Reginald Alexander

Definition of LanguageDefinition of Language

A language is a method of communication. Human A language is a method of communication. Human spoken languages can be described as a system spoken languages can be described as a system of symbols (sometimes known as lexemes) and of symbols (sometimes known as lexemes) and the grammars (rules) by which the symbols are the grammars (rules) by which the symbols are manipulated. The word manipulated. The word languagelanguage is also used to is also used to refer to the common properties of languages. refer to the common properties of languages. Language is commonly used for communication, Language is commonly used for communication, though it has other uses.though it has other uses.

LanguageLanguage

Origins of human Origins of human languagelanguage

Scientists do not yet agree on when language Scientists do not yet agree on when language was first used by humans (or their ancestors). was first used by humans (or their ancestors). Estimates range from about two million Estimates range from about two million (2,000,000) years ago, during the time of (2,000,000) years ago, during the time of Homo Homo habilisshabiliss, to as recently as forty thousand , to as recently as forty thousand (40,000) years ago, during the time of (40,000) years ago, during the time of Cromagnon man. The nature of speech means Cromagnon man. The nature of speech means that there is almost no data on which to base that there is almost no data on which to base conclusions on the subject.conclusions on the subject.

Origins of human Origins of human languagelanguage

SymbolsSymbols

A A symbolsymbol, in its basic sense, is a , in its basic sense, is a conventional representation of a concept conventional representation of a concept or quantity; i.e., an idea, object, concept, or quantity; i.e., an idea, object, concept, quality, etc. Spoken language, for quality, etc. Spoken language, for example, consists of distinct auditory example, consists of distinct auditory tokens for representing symbolic tokens for representing symbolic concepts (words), arranged in an order concepts (words), arranged in an order which further suggests their meaning.which further suggests their meaning.

SymbolsSymbols

GrammarGrammar

is the study of rules governing the use of is the study of rules governing the use of language. The set of rules governing a language. The set of rules governing a particular language is also called the particular language is also called the grammargrammar of the language; thus, each of the language; thus, each language can be said to have its own language can be said to have its own distinct grammar. Grammar is part of the distinct grammar. Grammar is part of the general study of language called general study of language called linguistics.linguistics.

Grammar Grammar

LinguisticsLinguistics

is the scientific study of human language, is the scientific study of human language, and someone who engages in this study and someone who engages in this study is called a is called a linguistlinguist or or linguisticianlinguistician..

LinguisticsLinguistics

Levels of theoretical Levels of theoretical linguisticslinguistics

Theoretical linguistics is often divided into a Theoretical linguistics is often divided into a number of separate areas, to be studied number of separate areas, to be studied more or less independently. The following more or less independently. The following divisions are currently widely acknowledged:divisions are currently widely acknowledged:

A.A. PhoneticsPhonetics, the study of the sounds of human language, the study of the sounds of human languageB.B. PhonologyPhonology (or phonemics), the study of patterns of a language's (or phonemics), the study of patterns of a language's

basic sounds basic sounds C.C. MorphologyMorphology, the study of the internal structure of words, the study of the internal structure of wordsD.D. SyntaxSyntax, the study of how words combine to form grammatical , the study of how words combine to form grammatical

sentencessentences

SyntaxSyntax

Levels of theoretical linguistics Levels of theoretical linguistics Cont.Cont.

E. E. SemanticsSemantics, the study of the meaning of words (lexical semantics), , the study of the meaning of words (lexical semantics),

and how these combine to form the meanings of sentencesand how these combine to form the meanings of sentences FF. . PragmaticsPragmatics, the study of how utterances are used (literally, , the study of how utterances are used (literally,

figuratively, or otherwise) in communicative acts figuratively, or otherwise) in communicative acts

Semantics PragmaticsSemantics Pragmatics

How Does Language How Does Language DevelopDevelop

How Does Language Develop How Does Language Develop Cont.Cont.

Language is acquired through interaction Language is acquired through interaction exchange using that particular language and exchange using that particular language and gestures, through observation and repeated gestures, through observation and repeated practice.practice.

Children acquire their native language primarily Children acquire their native language primarily through that used to communicate with them through that used to communicate with them

Language development is an ongoing process Language development is an ongoing process from birth to death from birth to death

Types of LanguageTypes of Language

VerbalVerbal- What is - What is spokenspoken

NonverbalNonverbal--Communication other Communication other than words. than words.

a.a. Hand movementHand movementb.b. Eye contactEye contactc.c. Body movementBody movement

Views of Language Views of Language developmentdevelopment

Noam ChomskyNoam Chomskya.a. Cognitive ViewCognitive View—(Nativist) —(Nativist)

Its not the parents who Its not the parents who teachteachlanguage to their children, language to their children, but children who teachbut children who teachthemselves language.themselves language.

b.b. Children must be exposed Children must be exposed to speech for speech to to speech for speech to develop. Children imitate develop. Children imitate the sounds that they hear. the sounds that they hear.

B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinnera.a. Learning TheoryLearning Theory- -

proposed that language proposed that language is learnt through operant is learnt through operant conditioning conditioning

b.b. Language must be Language must be learned through verbal learned through verbal behaviorbehavior

Stages of Language Stages of Language Acquisition Acquisition

Prenatal response to human voicesPrenatal response to human voices

Postnatal response to human voicesPostnatal response to human voicesa.a. Cooing( this is comprised of all possible phones) All infants coo in the Cooing( this is comprised of all possible phones) All infants coo in the

same way regardless of culture, language, hearing impaired or not.same way regardless of culture, language, hearing impaired or not.b.b. Babbling (This is comprise only from the distinct phonemes of the primary Babbling (This is comprise only from the distinct phonemes of the primary

language of the infant.language of the infant.

One word utterances One word utterances

Multi-word utterances Multi-word utterances

Telegraphic speech Telegraphic speech

Basic adult sentence structure (by age 4)Basic adult sentence structure (by age 4)

One word multi-One word multi-wordword

The Brain and LanguageThe Brain and Language

The BrainThe Brain

Some of the areas of the brain involved Some of the areas of the brain involved in language processing: Broca's area, in language processing: Broca's area, Wernicke's area, Brodmann area 40, Wernicke's area, Brodmann area 40, Angular gyrus, Primary Auditory Cortex. Angular gyrus, Primary Auditory Cortex.

Broca's area Broca's area

is the section of the human brain (in the is the section of the human brain (in the opercular and triangular sections of the opercular and triangular sections of the inferior frontal gyrus of the frontal lobe of inferior frontal gyrus of the frontal lobe of the cortex) that is involved in language the cortex) that is involved in language processing, speech production and processing, speech production and comprehension.comprehension.

Wernicke's area Wernicke's area

is a part of the human brain that forms part of the is a part of the human brain that forms part of the cortex, on the left posterior section of the superior cortex, on the left posterior section of the superior temporal gyrus, posterior ,it is usually located in the left temporal gyrus, posterior ,it is usually located in the left hemisphere. Damage to this area could cause a type hemisphere. Damage to this area could cause a type of aphasia (now called Wernicke's aphasia or receptive of aphasia (now called Wernicke's aphasia or receptive aphasia), which results in an impairment of language aphasia), which results in an impairment of language comprehension, and speech that has a natural-comprehension, and speech that has a natural-sounding rhythm but a jumbled syntax without sounding rhythm but a jumbled syntax without recognizable meaning (a condition sometimes called recognizable meaning (a condition sometimes called fluentfluent or or jargon aphasiajargon aphasia).).

Brodmann area 40Brodmann area 40

is part of the parietal cortex in the human is part of the parietal cortex in the human brain. BA40 is in the area of the brain. BA40 is in the area of the supramarginal gyrus, which is involved in supramarginal gyrus, which is involved in tactile learning and memorytactile learning and memory

The angular gyrus The angular gyrus

is a region of the brain in the parietal is a region of the brain in the parietal lobe, that lies near the superior edge of lobe, that lies near the superior edge of the temporal lobe, and immediately the temporal lobe, and immediately posterior to the supramarginal gyrus; it is posterior to the supramarginal gyrus; it is involved in a number of processes involved in a number of processes related to language and cognition.related to language and cognition.

The primary auditory cortexThe primary auditory cortex

is the region of the brain that is is the region of the brain that is responsible for processing of auditory responsible for processing of auditory (sound) information.(sound) information.

The EndThe End

QuestionsQuestions