PSYC1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Universal Grammar, Steven Pinker, Phoneme
Document Summary
"the jewel in the crown of cognition" (pinker, 1998), "the qualities of mind that are, as far as we know, unique to humans" (chomsky, 1972). Words are composed of 1 or more morphemes. "the two boys looked at the heavy box" "boys the two looking heavily the box at" English: the boy [subject] ate [verb] the cake [object]. Japanese: the boy [subject] cake [object] ate [verb]. How we derive meaning from morphemes, words and sentences. Rule: + ed to make a past tense statement. "me speech badly with grammar, but words use appropriately" After 1 year old we learn 5000 per year. Vastly outnumbers the 3 words per day children are taught by school teachers. Chomsky - child learns grammar & words that cannot be explained by learning principles. Exposure to language throws the switched of the lad and sets the child"s local language (dialect).
