Download - Intro to s r
Case Study 2. Case Study 2. Savage-Rumbaugh et al. (1986)
Objective: Be able to extend your Objective: Be able to extend your knowledge and understanding of knowledge and understanding of
the background research and the background research and theories attached to this case theories attached to this case
study.study.
How do we acquire language?How do we acquire language?
Whilst watching the documentary Whilst watching the documentary makes notes on the different theories makes notes on the different theories on how we acquire language during on how we acquire language during childhood.childhood.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-do-we-talk/do-we-talk/
Ways of Investigating LanguageWays of Investigating Language
primate studies using alternative apparatus / methods:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- plastic tokens
- brain-scanning technology
longitudinal studies of ‘normal’ humans from birth
studies of children raised by deaf parents
quasi-experiments / case studies of feral children
- Genie
- Czech twins
Language vs Communication
Language is a system of symbols (words / sounds) which convey meaning.
Communication is the transmission of ‘something’ (a message, signal) from one location to another.
Some form of language is necessary for communication.
COMPONENTS OF
LANGUAGE
PHONOLOGY(sound
patterns)
SEMANTICS(meaning patterns)
GRAMMAR(rules of language)
PRAGMATICS(rules of effective
communication)
Children’s Language Development
2 mths2 mths – cooing (pre-linguistic) – cooing (pre-linguistic) 6 mths6 mths – reduplicated babbling (‘dadada’) – reduplicated babbling (‘dadada’) 12 mths12 mths – one-word utterances – one-word utterances 18-24 mths18-24 mths – two-word utterances (telegraphic speech) – two-word utterances (telegraphic speech) 3 yrs3 yrs – vocabulary of @1000 words; use of personal – vocabulary of @1000 words; use of personal
pronounpronoun 6-7 yrs6-7 yrs – rules of grammar are mastered – rules of grammar are mastered
Language comprehension develops before language Language comprehension develops before language production.production.
Nature-Nurture Debate
Nurture View(Skinner,
1957)
Nature View (Chomsky,
1965) language is learnt… (Behaviourism)
language is innate / biologically pre-programmed (Nativist)
through principles of Operant Conditioning
and is acquired through the existence of an innate processing box (LAD) hard-wired in the brain
child will repeat sounds which have been positively reinforced
critical period (birth – puberty)
implies primates have capacity for learning language
implies primates should show no ability for language
What makes us human?
What do you think are the main differences between primates and humans? Are there any similarities?
Some differencesSome differencesHumans have:Humans have: a theory of mind (‘Sally-Anne task’)a theory of mind (‘Sally-Anne task’) consciousness / self-awareness consciousness / self-awareness the ability for tool use the ability for tool use language ability language ability high levels of intelligence high levels of intelligence less instinctive behaviourless instinctive behaviour
Some similarities• Living as part of a group• Genetic material (98%)
Animals and LanguageAnimals and Language
1.1. Do animals have language?Do animals have language?
2.2. Do animals have the ability to Do animals have the ability to understand communication? Think understand communication? Think about how the following adverts about how the following adverts were achieved…were achieved…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzEBLa3PPk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmE_h60rjk&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmE_h60rjk&feature=related
Earlier Research on PrimatesEarlier Research on Primates
Name of Chimp(researchers)
Main Findings
Gua(Kellogg & Kellogg, 1933)
Gua raised with researchers own child (Donald) but never uttered a word.
Vicki(Hayes & Hayes, 1952)
Vicki learnt 4 words in six years: up, cup, mama & papa.
Washoe(Gardner & Gardner,
1969)
Using ASL, Washoe learnt 30 signs over a 22 month period some creativity (“Gimme tickle”) but no structure dependence
Nim Chimpsky(Terrace)
Using ASL, Nim learnt 125 signs over a 4yr period – but was he just imitating his teachers?