PS102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Steven Pinker, Noam Chomsky, Connotation
Document Summary
Cognition- refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge thinking. Language- consists of symbols that convey meaning, plus rules for combining those symbols, that can be used to generate an infinite variety of messages. Sounds units with meaning words phrases sentences. Phonemes- the smallest speech units in a language that can be distinguished perceptually. English : 40 phonemes 26 letters in the alphabet. Morphemes- the smallest units of meaning in a language. Semantics- the area of language concerned with understanding the meaning of words and word combinations the infinite variety of objects and actions that words refer to. Connotation- includes emotional overtones and secondary implications. Syntax- a system of rules that specify how words can be arranged into sentences noun and verb phrase. Skills that become important at various points in a child"s development : moving toward producing words:
