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Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

191
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...
191
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

243
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.
243
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

322
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.
322
Attribution Theory00:56

Attribution Theory

12.9K
Behavior is a product of both the situation (e.g., cultural influences, social roles, and the presence of bystanders) and of the person (e.g., personality characteristics). Subfields of psychology tend to focus on one influence or behavior over others. Situationism is the view that our behavior and actions are determined by our immediate environment and surroundings. In contrast, dispositionism holds that our behavior is determined by internal factors (Heider, 1958).
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Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

4.5K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
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Framing Effects03:26

Framing Effects

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Information is everywhere and its presentation—such as how and when items are presented—can impact our perceptions and decisions surrounding the info. This broad concept umbrellas framing effects—influences that occur due to the way information is framed in its appearance, whether it’s purely the order or the specific wording of a message. Let’s take a look at numerous ways in which two versions of something can objectively say the same thing, yet we respond in...
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Forms, Mechanisms, and Roles of Iconicity in Spoken Language: A Review.

Harry Barker1, Mirjana Bozic1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

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Summary

Spoken words are not entirely arbitrary; sound symbolism creates non-arbitrary links between form and meaning. This iconicity, integral to language, aids learning and processing across species.

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Iconicitycross-modal correspondencelanguage evolutionneurobiology of languagesound symbolism

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Historically, language form-meaning relationships were viewed as arbitrary.
  • Recent research highlights non-arbitrary mappings, particularly phoneme-sound symbolism (iconicity).
  • Iconicity involves cross-modal correspondences and plays a role in word formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of iconicity in language.
  • To examine iconicity within evolutionary and neurobiological frameworks.
  • To understand the balance between iconicity and arbitrariness in language.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and theoretical analysis.
  • Integration of evolutionary and neurobiological perspectives.
  • Examination of multimodal, bihemispheric communication systems.

Main Results:

  • Iconicity, alongside arbitrariness, shapes the lexicon.
  • Multimodal systems incorporating iconicity offer phylogenetic and ontogenetic advantages.
  • Iconicity facilitates language learning, comprehension, and processing.

Conclusions:

  • Iconicity is integral to language, not a marginal phenomenon.
  • Language systems balance perceptual grounding (iconicity) with effective signaling (arbitrariness).
  • The multimodal communicative system relies on iconicity for evolutionary success.