Language and brain By Soner TARI
Language and Brain By Soner TARI
Language Acquisition Language is human specific Critical Period in First Language Acquisition of L1 is impaired after puberty Critical Period in Second Language Acquisition of L2 is impaired after puberty Evolution of Language Gestures were important
Language Acquisition • Language is human specific • Critical Period in First Language: – Acquisition of L1 is impaired after puberty • Critical Period in Second Language: – Acquisition of L2 is impaired after puberty Evolution of Language: – Gestures were important
Birdsong Similar to human languages in sensitive period Stages of development Initial exposure to the song of tutor(father) Successive approximation of produced song to the stored model Crystalization of the song in permanent form Deafening and distorting studies by Konishi Brain damage studies confirm vocal control centers view(Rosenzweig, p. 611)
Birdsong • Similar to human languages in sensitive period • Stages of development: – Initial exposure to the song of tutor (father) – Successive approximation of produced song to the stored model – Crystalization of the song in permanent form • Deafening and distorting studies by Konishi • Brain damage studies confirm vocal control centers view (Rosenzweig, p. 611)
Nonhuman primates Vocalizations look preprogramed, serving specific purposes only Initiated by sub-cortical areas like limbic system But for vocalization and decoding, they also use left hemisphere
Nonhuman Primates • Vocalizations look preprogramed, serving specific purposes only • Initiated by sub-cortical areas like limbic system • But for vocalization and decoding, they also use left hemisphere
THE FAR SIDE By GARY LARSON what we say ! Ive had x Sty out o of the garbage Understand Gin2S友yc of the what they hear
Teaching Language to Apes Throughout the history, all efforts to teach speech to animals have failed ASL was thought to chimpanzees to some extent Lana Project at Emory University Try to teach Yerkish to chimps Chimps are able to form novel and meaningful chains
Teaching Language to Apes • Throughout the history, all efforts to teach speech to animals have failed • ASL was thought to chimpanzees to some extent • Lana Project at Emory University: – Try to teach Yerkish to chimps – Chimps are able to form novel and meaningful chains
Deep down and Internal representation (Savage-Rumbaugh Vs Pinker Savage-Rumbaugh believes that Language ability of chimps is underestimated Chimps can understand speech(but cant produce Language comprehension comes before speech for a several million years Intention to communicate is important Pinker says they just don't get it
Deep down and Internal representation (Savage-Rumbaugh vs. Pinker) • Savage-Rumbaugh believes that – Language ability of chimps is underestimated – Chimps can understand speech (but can’t produce) – Language comprehension comes before speech for a several million years – Intention to communicate is important • Pinker says “they just don’t get it…
Language Disorders Egyptians reported speech loss after blow to head 3000 years ago Broca(1861)finds damage to left inferior frontal region(Broca's area)of a language impaired patient, in 22 postmortem analysis
Language Disorders • Egyptians reported speech loss after blow to head 3000 years ago • Broca (1861) finds damage to left inferior frontal region (Broca’s area) of a language impaired patient, in postmortem analysis
Language Disorders(2) In language disorders 90-95%of cases, damage is to the left hemisphere 5-10%of cases, to the right hemisphere Wada test is used to determine the hemispheric dominance Sodium amydal is injected to the carotid artery First to the left and then to the right
Language Disorders (2) • In language disorders – 90-95% of cases, damage is to the left hemisphere – 5-10% of cases, to the right hemisphere • Wada test is used to determine the hemispheric dominance – Sodium amydal is injected to the carotid artery – First to the left and then to the right
Frontal lobe Middle cerebral artery Parietal Temporal lobe Left internal carotid artery Sodium amytal Table A Hemispheric Control of Speech in Relation to Handedness SPEECH REPRESENTATION (% HANDEDNESS NUMBER OF CASES LEFT BILATERAL RIGHT Right 140 0 4 Left 122 70 15 15