PSYC1003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Steven Pinker, Noam Chomsky, American Sign Language
Document Summary
Develop executive control earlier and can juggle tasks more efficiently. Second languages more easily acquired early in life. Approached it as though washoe were a deaf child. Used geometric symbols on computer to represent words. Receptive language- 72% of 660 requests: receptive language greater than expressive language. Steven pinker: language is an innate human characteristic- we are born with the ability to learn language. Language is a product of natural selection- historically it would have been an important advantage. Behaviourist: skinner- learning of specific verbal responses (learn language through conditioning or observation) Nativist: chomsky- language development is innate, we all have a language acquisition device (lad) built in and are born ready to learn the rules of language. Overregularization- children figure out rules by themselves and are not just imitating what people around them say (adults only say went but sometimes children say goed) Language development is a natural part of brain maturation.
