Cognition and

Language
 Habituation

Looking
time

Stimulus 1
 Habituation

Looking
time

Nondiscrimination

Stimulus 1 Stimulus 2
 Discrimination

Habituation

Looking
time

Nondiscrimination

Stimulus 1 Stimulus 2
Attention
Infancy
◦ Joint attention begins about 7 to 8 months of age
◦ Individuals focus on same object or event and
requires
◦ Ability to track another’s behavior
◦ One person directing another’s attention
◦ Reciprocal interaction
◦ Frequency of caregiver-infant interactions affect
language development and vocabulary size
◦ Gaze following: begins 10 to 11 months of age
Study of Language
Study of language proved that learning is not all
imitation
Study of language verified lateralization of right and
left hemispheres
Many argue that language is what separates
humans from other animal species
Language has certainly allowed for advances in
culture and technology
 Not so simple
Split brain studies confirmed the hemispheric lateralization of language
But, also gave insight into the right hemispheres role in language

Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere

Analysis of right visual field Analysis of Left visual field
Stereognosis (Right hand) Stereognosis (left hand)
Explicit language: lexical and syntactic Prosody and visuospatial

Writing Spatial abilities

Speech Rudimentary speech
 Modern methods- theories
Grammar Prosody
Syntax Weaker activation of larger semantic
field
Strong activation of a small
semantic field Keeps multiple meanings of
ambiguous words active
Most frequent meanings
Interpretive
Single interpretation
Jokes, figurative language and
Predictive metaphors
Basic communication

LEFT HEMISPHERE (LH) RIGHT HEMISPHERE (RH)

(FEDERMEIER, 2007; JUNG-BEEMAN, 2005; MASHAL, FAUST, & HENDLER, 2005)

What is Language?
Defining language
◦ Form of communication, whether spoken, written, or signed, based on
system of symbols
◦ Infinite generativity: ability to produce an endless number of
meaningful sentences using a finite set of words and rules
 To say what has never been
said:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this
continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to
the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin,
but by the content of their character. “
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes
powerful.”
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
To the unusual…
“Say that again. I didn’t hear you. I was listening to
my toast.” Jessica Owens age 4

“Please do not make a zip line out of blankets.” me

Language development
Where does language come from?
Is it innate?
◦ Noam Chomsky: Humans have innate capacity to learn
language at certain time and in certain way
◦ Language Acquisition Device (LAD): Biological endowment that
allows child to learn language
◦ Is it learned?
◦ Is it the result of our experiences with others?

“Wild” Children: Genie & the Wild Boy of Aveyron

Interactionist View
Acquisition of language influenced by experiences
◦ Enriched environments have more positive effect

Children acquire language without explicit teaching

◦ Interactions with others promote language development

Bruner
◦ Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) – consists of
parents and teachers that assist in language development
◦ Sociocultural context is very important
◦ Similar to Vygotsky’s ZPD
Language Development:
Infancy
Babies’ sounds
◦ Crying
◦ From birth
◦ Cooing
◦ Pleasure sounds
◦ 1 to 2 months
◦ Babbling
◦ Consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., ba, ba, ba)
◦ About 6 months
◦ Gestures
◦ 8 to 12 months
Language Development:
Infancy
“Citizens of the world”
◦ Infants can make distinctions among language sounds
◦ Lose ability for non-native sounds during second half of
first year
◦ E.g., /r/ and /l/ sounds:
◦ American infants discriminate and get better by 12 months
◦ Japanese infants discriminate but lose ability by 12 months
◦ Recognize their own language by 6 months
 Language Development
First words
◦ First word: 10 to 15 months
of age
◦ Receptive > Expressive
◦ 8 to 12 months: first understanding
of words
◦ 50 words by about 13 months
◦ Produce 50 words by about 18
months
◦ 200 words by about 2 years
Language Development:
Infancy
Infants recognizing language sounds
◦ Asian child learns verbs earlier than child learning English
◦ Overextension and underextension of words
◦ Two-word utterances (18-24 months of age)
◦ Telegraphic/Holographic speech : precise speech lacking
grammatical markers