PSYC3016 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Language Acquisition, Reinforcement Learning, Steven Pinker
Document Summary
Why does language get (cid:862)special attention(cid:863): some have thought language is the critical difference between humans and other animals, critical for thinking & problem solving, socializing, cultural transmission. As opposed to it being a result of many things, but how it specifically has special adaptations. Syntax at the center of the field (iii) grammar/syntax: the form or structure of a language - rules for combining words into meaningful sentences. Domain-general maturation of the brain and cognitive/social learning account for language: domain-general: humans and animals are different in many ways including language; not defined specifically to language. Skinner: acquisition via positive reinforcement for saying words & sentences: frequency of maternal responsiveness at 9 months predicts language acquisition at 17 months. Children behave spontaneously, and if reinforced, it will continue and be active and vv. Bandura: social learning perspective - learning by imitation and reinforcement. Biological programming: noam chomsky: humans have an inborn capacity for language learning, a language.
