First Hour (and a bit)- What is the nature of human language?

Language

Characteristics of human language

Language acquisition• Nature nurture issues

Does language determine thought?• The Whorfian hypothesis

Nature nurture issues in language developmentNurture • Imitation and reinforcement

Nature• Structural preparedness• Universality of language development – Cooing and babbling• Parent-child interaction (Motherese/Parentese)• Critical period for language development• Noam Chomsky’s theoretical proposal – L.A.D. (Language Acquisition Device)

>Deep structure - Underlying meaning (Innate - LAD)

>Surface structure - Grammar (Learned with the LAD)

• The development of the Creole language>Pidgin language

Animal Communication

End of the second hour- Do animals have language?

Jane Goodall chimp studies in the wild

• The Kelloggs and Gua – teaching vocalizations

• The Gardeners and Washoe – teaching ASL

• Herb Terrace and Nim Chimpsky

Examples of chimp language studies

• Sue Savage-Rumbaugh and Kanzi