Course: Human language and mind

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Human language and mind

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Final Review Questions File

General information Page

Fall 2022, Monday 9:10–10:40 am, Oct. 3-Dec. 19, 2022

Prof. Eva Eckert, Ph.D. eeck233@gmail.com

Meetings at FF UK, Palachovo nám., rm 326

Office hours: Monday after the class at 10:40 or by appointment

Course description

HUMAN LANGUAGE and the MIND is a course in human thinking and speaking that deals with psychological, cognitive and anthropological aspects of language as a key to mind, intellect and creativity; interrelation of language, thoughts and brain; language in mediating experience, remembering and creating meaning; the instinctive, emotional and rational in our cognition; pre-linguistic cognition of hominids; children’s language acquisition; language diversity and memory.

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Select activity sample student projects

sample student projects File
Select activity Research proposal form to be submitted by Nov. 7

Research proposal form to be submitted by Nov. 7 File
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Announcements Forum

Select section WEEK 1: ORIGINS OF SPEECH and MODERN MAN Oct.3

WEEK 1: ORIGINS OF SPEECH and MODERN MAN Oct.3
Cognition and cognition for language

Learning and communicating

The brain and genes

Modern humans: Advancing the mind to get language

Chimps, songbirds and bees' communication systems cf. human language

What are the reasons for the rise of humans and modern language? TED Talk, by Y. N. Harari
- Select activity Questions to tackle in class and notes
  
  Questions to tackle in class and notes File
- Select activity The Day We Learned To Think
  
  The Day We Learned To Think File
- Select activity Designing human language and mind
  
  Designing human language and mind File
- Select activity Julie Sedivy, Language in Mind, Contents
  
  Julie Sedivy, Language in Mind, Contents File
- Select activity J. Sedivy, Web activities, ch. 2 - 13
  
  J. Sedivy, Web activities, ch. 2 - 13 URL
- Select activity TED by Y.N. Harari
  
  TED by Y.N. Harari Page
- Select activity The duality of patterning
  
  The duality of patterning File
- Select activity cartoon: How we communicate
  
  cartoon: How we communicate File
Select section WEEK 2: HUMAN LANGUAGE cf. animal communication systems 10 October

WEEK 2: HUMAN LANGUAGE cf. animal communication systems 10 October
Design features of language (Hockett): Displacement, compositionality, etc.
Animal communication systems: bees, dolphins, prairie dogs, chimps et al.
Language diversity

Language change: Survival of the fittest?
SEDIVY ch. 2, web activities 1-2

https://learninglink.oup.com/access/sedivy-2e-student-resources#tag_chapter-03

Readings: Sedivy, ch. 2, part I: pp. 3-31
- Select activity Sedivy ch. 2, part I
  
  Sedivy ch. 2, part I File
- Select activity Šedivý, terms and concepts, ch. 2
  
  Šedivý, terms and concepts, ch. 2 Page
- Select activity The day we learned to think, BBC 2003, 3-part series:
  
  The day we learned to think, BBC 2003, 3-part series: Page
- Select activity TED Talk How language transformed humanity, by Mark Pagel
  
  TED Talk How language transformed humanity, by Mark Pagel URL
- Select activity Questions and web activities: Language cf. animal communication systems
  
  Questions and web activities: Language cf. animal communication systems File
- Select activity Class 2 OUTLINE
  
  Class 2 OUTLINE File
- Select activity Ch. 2 web activities
  
  Ch. 2 web activities Assignment
Select section WEEK 3: INVENTING LANGUAGE 17 Oct.

WEEK 3: INVENTING LANGUAGE 17 Oct.
Sign language: Inventing language and vocal learning

Language change: What characteristics enable survival
Cultural transmission and universal cognition

The quest to understand consciousness, TED Talk by A. Damasio

Understanding language, by J. Elman (cont.)

Readings: Sedivy, ch. 2, pp. 31-54
- Select activity Sedivy ch. 2, part II
  
  Sedivy ch. 2, part II File
- Select activity Inventing language in Nicaragua
  
  Inventing language in Nicaragua URL
- Select activity Ch. 2 web activities on sign language
  
  Ch. 2 web activities on sign language Assignment
- Select activity OUTLINE and Question: Signs, gestures and language change
  
  OUTLINE and Question: Signs, gestures and language change File
Select section Week 4: Brain: Genetic disorders, SLI and dyslexia Oct 24

Week 4: Brain: Genetic disorders, SLI and dyslexia Oct 24
Genetic disorders cf. non-genetic impairments of language, dyslexia, etc.
Down's and Williams' syndromes and their symptomes

Interconnecting "intelligence", linguistic intelligence and genes

Non-genetic disorders and diagnosis: Specific language disorder and dyslexia
- Select activity Sedivy, Genetic and language impairment ch. 3
  
  Sedivy, Genetic and language impairment ch. 3 File
- Select activity Sedivy ch.3 pictures and graphs in color
  
  Sedivy ch.3 pictures and graphs in color File
- Select activity Notes and Questions: Genetic and other language impairments
  
  Notes and Questions: Genetic and other language impairments File
- Select activity Questions on Genetic disorders, SLI and dyslexia, Sedivy 3, part 1
  
  Questions on Genetic disorders, SLI and dyslexia, Sedivy 3, part 1 File
- Select activity Grey matters: Understanding language, U of California lecture by J. Elman
  
  Grey matters: Understanding language, U of California lecture by J. Elman URL
- Select activity Human Brain: Major Structures and their Functions
  
  Human Brain: Major Structures and their Functions URL
- Select activity Ch. 3 activities on language impairments
  
  Ch. 3 activities on language impairments Assignment
Select section WEEK 5: MAPPING LANGUAGE in the BRAIN Oct 31

WEEK 5: MAPPING LANGUAGE in the BRAIN Oct 31
How does brain process, perceive and produce language?

Brain hemispheres and the corpus callosum

The left hemisphere and its "language centers"

Functional anatomy of the brain: Tasking the brain
Distribution of language tasks in interconnected neural networks

Sharing cognitive resources in language production

Reading: Sedivy, ch. 3, pp. 67-84

J. Ellman's lecture, minutes 21-35, 45 to end
Understanding language, UC lecture by J. Elman
- Select activity Questions: Where language is in the brain and how to find out
  
  Questions: Where language is in the brain and how to find out File
- Select activity What scans showed
  
  What scans showed File
- Select activity Functional anatomy
  
  Functional anatomy File
- Select activity Aphasia and its language effects ppp
  
  Aphasia and its language effects ppp URL
- Select activity Science Bulletins: Language in the Brain, Columbia U lab fMRI video
  
  Science Bulletins: Language in the Brain, Columbia U lab fMRI video URL
- Select activity Tracing thoughts in your brain in real time, TED Talk by Christopher deCharms 2008
  
  Tracing thoughts in your brain in real time, TED Talk by Christopher deCharms 2008 URL
- Select activity How to look inside the brain, TED Talk by Carl Schoonover, 2012
  
  How to look inside the brain, TED Talk by Carl Schoonover, 2012 URL
- Select activity The_divided_brain, TED Talk by Iain Mcgilchrist
  
  The_divided_brain, TED Talk by Iain Mcgilchrist URL
- Select activity Powerful stroke of insight, TED Talk by Jill Bolte-Taylor
  
  Powerful stroke of insight, TED Talk by Jill Bolte-Taylor URL
- Select activity TED H. Markram_Neocortex and cerebral columns; and other brain's secrets
  
  TED H. Markram_Neocortex and cerebral columns; and other brain's secrets URL
Select section WEEK 6: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING SOUND PATTERNS Nov. 7

WEEK 6: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING SOUND PATTERNS Nov. 7
SOUNDS, SYMBOLS and PHONOTACTIC CONSTRAINTS

How infants learn by swimming in the "sea of sounds":

Engaging the frontal lobe through joint attention

Recognizing sounds and matching sound clusters to "meanings"

Environmental sounds vs. language sounds
Reading: Learning sound patterns, in Sedivy, ch. 4, pp. 105-119, in particular; pp. 120 if you have no knowledge on phonetics and phonology
Assignment: Web activities in ch. 4
Voluntary but expected of advanced students: Upload your proposal for an independent research project
- Select activity REVIEW Tasking the brain How our mind deals with language sounds
  
  REVIEW Tasking the brain How our mind deals with language sounds File
- Select activity Research project proposal, required of students with a background in linguistics or psychology
  
  Research project proposal, required of students with a background in linguistics or psychology Assignment
- Select activity L in Mind ch4 Sounds p 105-119
  
  L in Mind ch4 Sounds p 105-119 File
- Select activity Pat Kuhl, TED Talk
  
  Pat Kuhl, TED Talk URL
- Select activity Sound assimilation cartoon
  
  Sound assimilation cartoon File
- Select activity Consonant chart
  
  Consonant chart File
- Select activity Consonant symbols and word examples
  
  Consonant symbols and word examples File
- Select activity Vowel phonetic symbols and examples
  
  Vowel phonetic symbols and examples File
- Select activity Vowel triangle graph
  
  Vowel triangle graph File
- Select activity Web activities, ch. 4
  
  Web activities, ch. 4 Assignment
- Select activity Questions
  
  Questions File
Select section Week 7: How infants learn from the sound input and gain the naming insight Nov. 14

Week 7: How infants learn from the sound input and gain the naming insight Nov. 14
- Select activity Qs Notes Phms perception naming
  
  Qs Notes Phms perception naming File
- Select activity L in Mind ch4 Sounds p 120-
  
  L in Mind ch4 Sounds p 120- File
- Select activity Phoneme, categorical perception and naming insight in infant learning
  
  Phoneme, categorical perception and naming insight in infant learning File
- Select activity Web activities, ch. 4
  
  Web activities, ch. 4 Assignment
Select section WEEK 8: INFANTS LEARNING WORDS Nov. 21

WEEK 8: INFANTS LEARNING WORDS Nov. 21
Topic: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING WORDS

Description: The nature of speaking; Sound recognition and matching sounds to words;

Concepts and reference

Reading: Learning words, in Sedivy, ch. 5, pp. 146-163

Assignment: web activities 5.1 - 5.4
- Select activity Doing WORDS: Outline, ch. 5
  
  Doing WORDS: Outline, ch. 5 File
- Select activity WORD learning notes and Questions
  
  WORD learning notes and Questions File
- Select activity Sedivy, ch. 5, Learning words, part I
  
  Sedivy, ch. 5, Learning words, part I File
- Select activity Reading each other's mind, TED Talk by R.Saxe
  
  Reading each other's mind, TED Talk by R.Saxe URL
- Select activity How children learn words, Deb Roy's TED Talk
  
  How children learn words, Deb Roy's TED Talk URL
- Select activity Web activities 5.1-5.4 https://learninglink.oup.com/access/sedivy-2e-student-resources#tag_chapter-05
  
  Web activities 5.1-5.4 https://learninglink.oup.com/access/sedivy-2e-student-resources#tag_chapter-05 Assignment
Select section Week 9: Complex words: Patterns or rules? Nov. 28

Week 9: Complex words: Patterns or rules? Nov. 28
- Select activity Derivational trees of English words
  
  Derivational trees of English words File
- Select activity Sedivy, ch. 5, Words, part II
  
  Sedivy, ch. 5, Words, part II File
- Select activity Web activities 5.5 and on
  
  Web activities 5.5 and on Assignment
- Select activity Word rules, analogy and memory
  
  Word rules, analogy and memory File
Select section WEEK 10: LANGUAGE LOGIC: BUILDING SENTENCES Dec 5

WEEK 10: LANGUAGE LOGIC: BUILDING SENTENCES Dec 5
Topic: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES

Description: How does mind build “logical“ sentences and “correct“ grammatical structures?

Readings: Learning the structure of words and sentences, in Sedivy, ch. 5, pp. 168-80, and ch. 6, pp. 185-200
- Select activity ch. 6 OUTLINE
  
  ch. 6 OUTLINE File
- Select activity Web activities, ch. 6
  
  Web activities, ch. 6 Assignment
- Select activity Language Files 5 Syntax cartoon
  
  Language Files 5 Syntax cartoon
- Select activity Sedivy, Syntax, ch. 6, part I
  
  Sedivy, Syntax, ch. 6, part I File
- Select activity How our mind builds sentences: The "trees"
  
  How our mind builds sentences: The "trees" File
- Select activity American high-scholers' sentences to analyze
  
  American high-scholers' sentences to analyze File
- Select activity Questions
  
  Questions File
Select section WEEK 11: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY Dec. 12, 2022

WEEK 11: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY Dec. 12, 2022
LANGUAGE DIVERSITY

Description: Language universals; Speakers‘ learning biases

Reading: Sedivy, pp. 471-492, ch. 12.1 and 12.2
Mapping features and patterns to show their distribution and concentration, e.g....
Consonant inventories; Structural marking for hearsay; Preference for prefixes vs. suffixes
https://learninglink.oup.com/access/content/sedivy-2e-student-resources/sedivy2e-chapter-13-web-activity-1?previousFilter=tag_chapter-13
Indigenous languages across North America are under threat of extinction due to the colonial legacy of cultural erasure, says linguist Lindsay Morcom. Highlighting grassroots strategies developed by the Anishinaabe people of Canada to revive their language and community, Morcom makes a passionate case for enacting policies that could protect Indigenous heritage for generations to come: https://www.ted.com/talks/lindsay_morcom_a_history_of_indigenous_languages_and_how_to_revitalize_them?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button__2020-04-29
Assignment: web activities 13.1-13.2
https://learninglink.oup.com/access/sedivy-2e-student-resources#tag_chapter-13
- Select activity Sedivy, ch. 12, pp 471-95
  
  Sedivy, ch. 12, pp 471-95 File
- Select activity Web activities, Language diversity, 12.1-12.2
  
  Web activities, Language diversity, 12.1-12.2 Assignment
- Select activity Diversity: Language universals and cognitive biases QUESTIONS
  
  Diversity: Language universals and cognitive biases QUESTIONS File
Select section WEEK 12: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY Dec. 19, 2022

WEEK 12: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY Dec. 19, 2022
LANGUAGE DIVERSITY

Description: Words, concepts and cultures; Bilingualism

Reading: Sedivy, pp. 492-516, ch. 12.3-12.5

Assignment: web activities 13.3-13.5
- Select activity Sedivy, ch. 12, part 2, pp 496-518
  
  Sedivy, ch. 12, part 2, pp 496-518 File
- Select activity Concepts and words
  
  Concepts and words File
- Select activity Bilingualism
  
  Bilingualism File
- Select activity Diversity Questions
  
  Diversity Questions File
- Select activity Web activities 13.3-13.5
  
  Web activities 13.3-13.5 Assignment
- Select activity Diversity: Patterns and biases
  
  Diversity: Patterns and biases File
Select section Presentations of advanced students following the final test Jan. 9 and 30, 2023

Presentations of advanced students following the final test Jan. 9 and 30, 2023