PSY 365 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Grammar, Animal Communication, Arbitrariness

• School: Stony Brook University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 365
• Professor: Susan Brennan

Document Summary

Criteria for a language (design features) - 1960. Language is equated with the ability to vocalize or speak. Did not consider sign language a real language. The signal fades (is ephemeral) (ignore written language ) Different speakers can produce or receive the same message. Signal is communicative with no other function. Symbols are arbitrary - don"t resemble what they mean. Most expressions don"t vary continuously but pattern into discrete categories. Displacement requires planning (carrying tools around for future use) Producing some kind of behavior based on a mental representation that you can"t currently perceive. Must be learned through exposure as opposed to genetically transmitted. Small elements are combined in different ways to make larger elements. A language can be used for deliberate deception (lying) A language can be used to talk about itself. Users of one language could learn a different language. Gorillas (koko) - productivity (ring = finger bracelet ) Bird species vary greatly in communication features.