Language & Cognition
23 important questions on Language & Cognition
Is language cognition according to behaviorism?
Behavior is the only cognition -->
Thinking is sub-vocal physical speech
(Extreme version of language = cognition hypothesis)
What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?
What is linguistic determinism?
- People who speak another language see the world differently.
(Depending on concepts & structures present in their language)
- Higher grades + faster learning
- Never study anything twice
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
For my 1st exam I got a C. Then, I started looking for ways to learn better and I came across Study Smart. Since then I have scored a A+, A, A- and another A. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to hear it. I am so happy with it!!
I was struggling to finish all my first-year subjects for 3 years. Then I discovered Study Smart, which helped me to finish all of them within 3 months.
Because of StudySmart, things are going well in many ways. Before, I always had study stress and no time for anything. Now I feel calm and confident (because of the program). I used to score a B, now I usually score an A or A+.
Hey Chris, I really want to thank you very much for developing the platform, I usually got around C for my exams, now I scored an A+, an A and a A- !!
Since using Study Smart, my average has increased significantly. I even completed a statistics course with a A+ while I'm bad at statistics. I took on extra courses this year, because of Study Smart. Thanks so much!
Ever since I started studying with StudySmart I passed all my exams !!! No more re-sits!! At first, I was happy with a pass and now I only get good grades. Many thanks!
I aced all the courses I studied with Study Smart. For law, I first scored a D, and now an A! I’m 100% sure that I’ll pass all the courses I study with Study Smart.
I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
I immediately started to enjoy learning again, and my grades soared. All of a sudden, everything went better. I highly recommend Study Smart to all students..
Being able to create my materials online made the process of studying so much smoother and quicker. I no longer have to spend a huge amount of my time on creating my summaries.
At first, my notes were a mess. Now I use Study Smart to take my notes in a perfectly structured way. It helps me to save a lot of time and do other things I enjoy.
Students that study with Study Smart get better grades. The system applies all the learning methods in such a way that both well-performing students and students who struggle perform much better.
Hi Chris, I would like to thank you very much. Last year I scored C on a course, and this year I got an A+ thanks to your method! Thank you very much!
The largest effect is that my child is more enthusiastic about school! Every parent wants their children to be happy at school, Study Smart made it happen.
In high school, I failed several exams, and that has really changed now. I actually needed this tool very much back then. Since I started studying with StudySmart, I haven't had any D's. My average score is now an A and those are results I would have never had in the past
With my old method, I passed only 3 out of 8 courses. Since I started taking my notes digitally in Study Smart, I have passed all my courses on the first try. For me, StudySmart takes away the stress of wondering if I will pass or not.
Thanks to StudySmart, I passed all my exams, and with better grades than before! On top of that, I have mastered a very good study method now, which I am confident will help me earn my degree.
What is linguistic relativism?
How can you test the strong version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
- Can they still process these concepts?
Absolute difference: (Linguistic determinism)- Language determines thought
- So, if something is not present in language, it's not present in thought
What is the difference in testing the strong and the weak version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis? (Expectations)
Weak version --> Relativism --> Relative changes
What word-types do we mostly use for language testing cultures?
A language has >3 terms for colors, what colors?
- First: Yellow, green blue (ezel: zon, gras, water)
- Then Brown (kak)
- Then purple, orange & gray (mix & onnatuurlijk)
What does the order in which color-terms are 'added' to a language suggest?
Suggests: Universal psychophysical basis for color terms.
--> Perception shapes language, not the other way around
What are the findings on color research comparing the Dani people & western subjects?
- Better at focal colors, than non-focal colors (just like western subjects)
What are the findings in language research of the Berinmo people? (color). What hypothesis does this support?
Results: - Able to perceive colors for which they have no word
- Worse performance than english subjects. (Decline depending on language)
Relative difference --> Suppors weak version of Sapir-Wharf Hypothesis
What is the difference between Russian in English in color terms?
What were the findings of the language experiment involving english & russian subjects? (color)
- Russian subjects: faster performance when choosing stimuli from different blue categories (compared to within the same blue)
Conclusion: Benefit of color categories more pronounced when 2 stimuli are very similar.
- Language influences perception & action
What were the conclusions when comparing greeks speaking & english subjects? (color). What hypothesis does this support?
Blue deviants show a much larger mismatch negativity for greek speakers, compared to english subjects.
(Because greek speakers have 2 words for blue)
Evidence for weak version of Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (Relative Changes)
What were the findings for the Piraha people when talking about language & numbers?
(One, two, many, much)
There has been research on numbers & language (Comparing 3 tribes with english speakers). What are the conclusions when taking all this research into account?
Piraha people can't cope with larger numbers (Gordon), but australian children who grow up with few numerals are just as good at manipulating as english australian children (Butterworth)
(Contradicting evidence for language --> Different cause? --> Culture?)
How do english speakers talk about time?
Organizing events in time as if they are in a horizontal spatial relationship.
Examples:
- Good times are ahead
- Hardship is behind us
- Move meeting forward
- Push deadline back
How do mandarin speakers talk about time?
- BUT: also above/below methaphors
- Organizing events in time s if they are in a vertical spatial relationship
Examples:
- Weeks/months in the past: sha'ng (up)
-Weeks/months in future: xia' (down)
How can you research in what way 'time' is organized in language? What were the results?
-Horizontal & vertical primes (ball above, worm in front)
- Time related questions (March earlier than april?)
- Measure RT
Results:
- English speaker: Time is triggered by horizontal (faster RT)
- Mandarin speaker: time triggered by vertical (faster RT)
- Biling (english learned later): Stronger vertical than horizontal priming (still show 'mandarin' RT)
What is unique about Sign language? What hypothesis came out of this?
It uses a combination of hands & face.
Uses face --> Does speaking sign language change face perception or spatial cognition?
What did Bettger et al. Show when researching sign language & face perception?
- Deaf participant, deaf parents
- Deaf participants, hearing parents
- Hearing participants, hearing parents
Deaf-Deaf much better at face recognition (no different in Deaf-hearing & hearing-hearing)
What are the findings of spatial cognition in sign language 'speakers'?
Results: More accurate location & orientation in mental rotation
Nicaraguan Sign Language (NSL; Pyers et al): Simple NSL & complex NSL.
Complex NSL 'speakers' better performance on spatial orientation than simple NSL
What other influences does speaking sign language have? (Where do you get better at?)
Better spatial cognition
The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:
- A unique study and practice tool
- Never study anything twice again
- Get the grades you hope for
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
