Language & Cognition
The relationship between language and cognition continues to be an area of science that is heavily studied and for which research builds in exciting ways (Aitchison, 2007). New learnings about cognition and language are intimately tied to technological advances as neuropsychologists and others probe the human brain ever more deeply and meaningfully (Aitchison, 2007).
Language and lexicon. Language is understood to be the symbolic representation of human thought (Yule, 2005). Language is the most complex method of human communication, whether written or spoken, in that it uses words in a structured manner and in conventional ways that are understood by those who speak, read, and write a particular language (Yule, 2005). Language can also take the form of nonverbal communication through facial and gestural expressions (Yule, 2005). The concept of lexicon takes two general forms: A dictionary of a particular language, and the vocabulary associated with an individual, a practice, a branch of knowledge, or an entire language (Yule, 2005).
Evaluate the key features of language. The key features of language are generally considered to be: arbitrariness, duality, systematicity, structure-dependence, productivity, displacement, specialisation, and cultural transmission (Williamson, 2009).
Arbitrariness. Language is a symbols system, the units of which are words (Williamson, 2009). Through application of a structure known as grammar, words are strung together in a way that creates meaning (Williamson, 2009). Which symbols are constructed and used in a language system, however, are not rule-bound (Williamson, 2009). Rather, symbolization is an arbitrary process because there is no relation between the word and the meaning of the word in modern language (Williamson, 2009). The result of this arrangement is that we cannot know the meaning of the either the word or the symbol just by knowing either of these elements (Williamson, 2009). This arrangement also provides flexibility to the development of a language because the choice of symbols (words) is fundamentally arbitrary (Williamson, 2009). Only onomatopoeic words imitate a sound of an action or an object, and so are less...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now