Language_and_Memory

Running head: LANGUAGE AND MEMORY Language and Memory Natalie Maxwell PSYC 560 Dr. Melissa Wood August 20, 2011 “Language is a set of symbols and rules for the combination of these symbols that allow for communication and comprehension among individuals” (Robinson-Rielger and Robinson-Rielger, 2008, p. 383). Language is how people communicate with each other, used by race, heritage, and background to communicate. Language is important to the way people communicate because semantic memory is vital to language. There would be no language is semantic memory didn’t exist because language, words, meanings are stored. Language is how people create sentences, paragraphs, phrases by what he or she say, how he or she will say it. Language becomes second nature when he or she already knows what and how he or she says it to another person. People believe that when he or she speaks, it is without his or her thought and is done unconsciously. In this paper, the subject will explain the nature and function of semantic memory, analyze the basic functions of language, examine the stages of language production, and explain the relationship between semantic memory and language production. Explain the nature and function of semantic memory “Semantic memory is one’s storehouse of explicit general knowledge that is of knowledge that can be expressed in words and is not mentally tied to specific experiences in one’s own life. Semantic memory includes, but is not limited to one’s knowledge of word meanings” (Gray, 2007, p. 334). When a baby is born, he or she learned to recognize symbols and words repeated by his or her parents because the symbols and words become stuck in the baby’s brain. When the baby gets older, information about the symbol or word is stored inside the baby’s brain. Azar (2007) stated that, “As with the baby, semantic memory is most active during childhood; it is during this time that most individuals encounter and learn new concepts and ideas” (p. 16). Semantic memory is the most critical part of the language, understanding functions of language will help aid in the understanding. Analyze the basic functions of language There are three functions of language that one function of language is to communicate information from one person to another. Giving directions, a news report and a debate are examples of the informative language function (Hartsuiker, 2006). People communicate with other people for different reasons. Informative means that the information or sentences are either true or false and have a definitive purpose. A second function of language is to express feelings or attitudes and to evoke feelings and attitudes (Hartsuiker, 2006). To evoke or express feelings whether it is happy or sad, joy or pain, excited or scared. Lyrics, poetry, and literature are examples of the expressive language function. Expressive language does not have to be true or have any fact in it, often literature and poetry are fiction and written for enjoyment. “The third function of language is called directive language. Directive language is used for preventing some action” (Hartsuiker, 2006, p. 858). For example, telling a teenager not to have sex is an example or directive language. This language is not true or false because this one is more like commands. The basic functions of language are analyzed, and it is important for people to know the stages of language production. Examine the stages of language production Language production is made up of three different stages that each stages has concepts and process, when put together, these stages help an individual to form language. “The first stage is conceptualization or an intend to speak. In this stage, the process of “think before you speak” goes on” (Hartsuiker, 2006). Before a person speaks, he or she must conceptualize or create an idea or concept to speak about the word because after the idea is formed, the right word must be chosen, it is within the stage that this word selection also takes place. With the words and concept chosen, the second stage, formulation, takes place. Formulation is the stage where the linguistic form of the word is created (Hartsuiker, 2006). For example, when someone want to say “hey” or “later” to a friend or family member, “hey” or “later” is encoded and phonetically put together. When these words are created, there is no expression associated at this stage; only the meaning of the word. “The third stage, articulation, is associated with expression and the actual pronunciation of the word” (Hartsuiker, 2006). In this stage, these two words become vocal. The motor phonetics of the word along with the motor coordination come together and the word is given life or said out loud (Hartsuiker, 2006). Language is a very complicated process and involves the semantic memory as well. Explain the relationship between semantic memory and language production The relationship between semantic memory and language production is that “semantic memory is the part of the declarative memory where both data and general facts are stored. Words, meanings, and language are also stored in the semantic memory” (Tomasello, 2002, p. 10). Language is a knowledge that people of different culture, heritage, backgrounds know collectively to communicate with other people. Learning any language means that a person is making a connection with ideas and concepts stored in the semantic memory. Tomasello (2002) stated that, “Language production relies on the semantic memory as one needs to associate words with ideas and concepts” (p. 12). For example, a caution sign has a cultural universal meaning because of the shape, color, and the big black words have meaning. Each one, shape, color, and the words are associated with the caution sign. The concepts are kept within semantic memory as they are learned and stored there. Language requires knowledge and knowledge is stored in semantic memory. When the words, meanings, and language are stored in the semantic memory, the relationship between semantic memory and language production is dependent because language is dependent on semantic memory for its development. Conclusion Language is a necessary and a very complicated process that every human possesses. Language is used for different reason like giving directions, expressing feelings, and giving commands. Words and meanings are stored; there would be no language without semantic memory. This paper has examined the nature and functions of semantic memory, analyze the basic functions of language, examine the stages of language production, and explain the relationship between semantic memory and language production. References Azar, A (2007). Making sense of semantic memory. Monitor on Psychology, 38(5), 16. Gray, P (2007). Psychology (5th ed). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Hartsuiker, R (2006). Are speech error patterns affected by a monitoring bias' Language & Cognitive Processes, 21(7-8), 856-891. Robinson-Rielger, G., & Robinson-Riegler, B (2008). Cognitive Psychology: Applying the Science of the Mind (2nd ed). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Tomasello, M (2002). Things are what they do: Katherine Nelson’s Functional Approach to Language and Cognition. Journal of Cognition & Development, 3(1), 5-19.