You Have Learned About The Different Aspects Of Memory

You Have Learned About The Different Aspects Of Memory In the Previous

You have learned about the different aspects of memory in the previous modules. Research some of the general characteristics of language and the concept of speech acquisition in infants using your textbook, the Internet, and the Argosy University online library resources before responding to these questions: Researchers describe language as having six different properties. Describe the six properties. Which two properties do you think are the most important? Explain your answers with reasons. Jim and Sue just had a baby, and they are interested in learning more about the process of language acquisition. They have heard about the controversy surrounding the view that speech is special. Do you think speech is special or is it processed like other auditory stimuli? Explain your answer with reasons. Several African languages use clicks as consonants. Jim and Sue, who are English speaking, cannot hear the difference between the different types of clicks and have a difficult time learning one of these languages. If they were to move to Africa when their baby is about one-year old, do you think the baby would be able to hear the difference? Why or why not? Do you think she would hear the difference if they moved to Africa after her tenth birthday? Give reasons for your answers. Write your initial response in 4–5 paragraphs. Apply APA standards to the citation of sources.

Paper For Above instruction

Language plays a fundamental role in human cognition and memory processes; it is intricately linked to the way individuals encode, store, and retrieve memories. Researchers have identified six properties that characterize language, which provide insight into its structure and function. These properties include semanticity, arbitrariness, discreteness, duality of patterning, productivity, and cultural transmission. Understanding these properties enhances our comprehension of language acquisition and its impact on memory and communication.

Semanticity refers to the property that language conveys meaning; each symbol or word is associated with a specific concept or object. Arbitrariness indicates that there is no inherent connection between the signifier and the signified; for example, the word “dog” does not resemble an actual dog. Discreteness involves language being composed of distinct units, such as phonemes and morphemes, which can be combined in various ways to form words and sentences. Duality of patterning describes how language combines a limited set of sounds to produce a vast array of meaningful expressions. Productivity, or generativity, refers to the ability to create and understand novel sentences beyond stored examples. Lastly, cultural transmission signifies that language is learned socially and transmitted across generations.

Of these six properties, productivity and cultural transmission are often regarded as the most critical. Productivity allows speakers to generate an infinite number of sentences, facilitating complex communication and abstract thought. Cultural transmission ensures that language is learned within a community, preserving linguistic diversity and enabling shared understanding. These properties are essential for effective communication, memory encoding, and the development of cognitive skills. Without productivity, language would be limited to rote memorization, reducing its usefulness for nuanced communication. Without cultural transmission, language would not evolve socially, hindering learning and memory development.

The debate over whether speech is “special” or processed like other auditory stimuli centers on the unique features of speech sounds and their role in human communication. Speech is indeed processed in specialized regions of the brain, such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas, which are dedicated to language processing. However, some researchers argue that speech shares many processing mechanisms with other complex sounds, such as music and environmental noises. From this perspective, speech may not be fundamentally “special” but rather part of a broader auditory processing system that has been finely tuned through evolution to handle language. In light of this, I believe speech is processed similarly to other complex auditory stimuli, but the brain has developed specialized modules that facilitate rapid and precise interpretation of speech sounds, given their importance for social interaction and survival.

Regarding language differences in click consonants used in some African languages, infants demonstrate remarkable plasticity in auditory perception during early development. If Jim and Sue moved to Africa when their baby was about one year old, the infant’s exposure to the linguistic environment would likely enable her to learn to distinguish click types. During this critical period, the baby’s auditory system is highly adaptable, and neural pathways are still forming in response to the sounds the infant encounters. Therefore, the baby would most likely hear and differentiate these clicks effectively because of this heightened neuroplasticity.

However, if the family moved to Africa after the child's tenth birthday, the situation would differ markedly. By this age, children’s perceptual systems tend to become more specialized and less plastic, making it harder to acquire new distinctions in speech sounds that are not present in their native language. The process of perceptual narrowing, which occurs during early childhood, leads to reduced sensitivity to non-native sounds. Consequently, a ten-year-old would probably have difficulty hearing and perceiving the differences between the various click consonants because her auditory system would have largely adapted to the phonetic contrasts of her native language. This exemplifies how neuroplasticity diminishes with age but remains more receptive in early childhood, influencing language learning and perception.

References

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