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?