Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

822
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...
822
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

670
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.
670
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

627
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.
627
Language Development01:22

Language Development

732
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...
732
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Qualitative Analysis01:10

Qualitative Analysis

1.2K
Qualitative analysis is the process of identifying elements, ions, or compounds in an unknown sample. It is the first and most fundamental type of analysis based on the hierarchy of analytical goals. This hierarchy is significant as it provides a structured approach to scientific research, with qualitative analysis serving as the initial step, providing essential information before moving on to quantitative or other forms of analysis.
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...
1.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Unraveling the Unexpected: How Pilots Can Successfully Manage Unexpected Events.

Human factors·2026
Same author

The role of ADHD in aggressive driving behavior among young adult drivers: effects of traffic aggressiveness and roadway environments.

Accident; analysis and prevention·2026
Same author

Human vigilance in the age of intelligent machines: Challenges and prospects.

Ergonomics·2026
Same author

Training for vigilance on the move using knowledge of results: The effects of feedback type on performance and subjective response.

Ergonomics·2025
Same author

Correction: How and why humans trust: A meta-analysis and elaborated model.

Frontiers in psychology·2025
Same author

Can ergonomics/human factors survive?

Ergonomics·2025
Same journal

Analysis of strength degradation of coal and rock masses and stability of mined areas under long term immersion environment.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Biogenic Silver-Selenium nanocomposite with anticancer activity and potent efficacy against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Preparation and physicochemical characterization of a biodegradable chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel synthesized in NaOH/urea medium.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Action-guilt, survivor-guilt, and depression in combat-related PTSD.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Explainable machine learning for predicting activities of daily living at discharge in stroke patients: A retrospective study using SHAP interpretability.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Deep learning based two-way feature depiction model for brain tumor detection.

PloS one·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning
05:33

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

Published on: January 29, 2020

6.3K

Quantifying the qualities of language.

P A Hancock1,2, William G Volante1

  • 1Psychology Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.

Plos One
|May 6, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study quantifies language, revealing significant variability in understanding probability and Likert-type scale terms. Findings highlight how term valence impacts comprehension, suggesting language needs quantitative evaluation for clarity.

More Related Videos

Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
08:05

Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques

Published on: June 30, 2020

7.9K
Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
09:09

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody

Published on: September 27, 2024

734

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning
05:33

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

Published on: January 29, 2020

6.3K
Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
08:05

Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques

Published on: June 30, 2020

7.9K
Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
09:09

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody

Published on: September 27, 2024

734

Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Accurate language is crucial for effective communication, especially with advanced technologies.
  • Verbal response instruments and probability statements are common but can be ambiguous.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the qualities of language by deriving numerical values for probability statements and Likert-type scale terms.
  • To assess inter-responder variability and scale compression in understanding these terms.
  • To investigate the relationship between term valence and common understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of numerical values and variability scores for general probability statements.
  • Analysis of anchor terms commonly used on Likert-type scales.
  • Quantitative evaluation of linguistic term understanding and agreement/disagreement propensities.

Main Results:

  • Significant inter-responder variability was found in understanding probability and Likert-type scale terms.
  • Scale compression was observed, indicating poor alignment with expected equal response spacing.
  • Agreement terms showed higher consensus, while disagreement terms exhibited greater variability, linking valence to understanding.

Conclusions:

  • The study quantifies linguistic ambiguity, demonstrating that common terms possess inherent variability and scale compression.
  • Term valence systematically influences the degree of common understanding.
  • Quantitative evaluation can sharpen language as a communication tool, improving accuracy in technological applications.