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Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

894
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
894
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

776
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
776
Language Development01:22

Language Development

872
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
872
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

730
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
730
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

3.5K
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
3.5K
Group Design02:01

Group Design

10.3K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
10.3K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
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More than a scaffold: Language is a neuroenhancement.

Guy Dove1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Cognitive Neuropsychology
|July 5, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Language acts as a cognitive scaffold and a neuroenhancement, extending our conceptual reach. This view explains abstract concept development and language

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • The role of language in thought is debated, with some viewing it as a cognitive scaffold.
  • Embodied and grounded cognition theories highlight language's role in capturing regularities and cultural information.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose that language functions as a neuroenhancement, not just a cognitive scaffold.
  • To explore how the language system extends conceptual abilities.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical argumentation and synthesis of existing research in cognitive science and neuroscience.
  • Analysis of language's contribution to conceptual systems and development.

Main Results:

  • Language is a neuroenhancement, a computational add-on extending conceptual reach.
Keywords:
Cognitionconceptsembodiedlanguagesemantic memory

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  • The language system is integral to a flexible, multimodal conceptual system.

    • Conclusions:

    • Viewing language as a neuroenhancement offers a compelling explanation for cognitive development and abstract thought.
    • It highlights the profound impact of language on human cognition and conceptual abilities.