An Introduction to Psycholinguistics

by Steinberg; Danny D.

• ISBN13: 9780582505759
• ISBN10: 0582505755
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2006-01-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

How do we learn to speak and understand speech? Is language unique to humans? This popular text has established itself as the book for learning and understanding this fascinating area of linguistic study. Psycholinguistics is one of the core areas of study on all Linguistics courses, and can also be studied within Psychology departments. The first edition sold over 13000 copies. The book is written in an accessible and engaging style for introductory level students. Although the topics presented are often dealt with in depth and involve current issues issues of research, no specific knowledge of any topic is presupposed on the part of the reader. Has a strong applied angle and provides insights into second language acquisition, language teaching and problems of bilingualism.

Author Biography

Danny D. Steinberg is Professor Emeritus of Surugadai University and has previously taught at University of Hawaii and Rikkyo University Natalia V. Sciarini is an independent researcher, writer and translator, and works at the Research Services and Collections Department at Yale University

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
List of tables	xv
List of figures	xvi
Publisher's acknowledgements	xvii
Part 1 First-Language Learning	1	(120)
How Children Learn Language	3	(34)
The development of speech production	3	(17)
The development of speech comprehension	20	(5)
The relationship of speech production, speech comprehension, and thought	25	(2)
Parentese and Baby Talk	27	(3)
Imitation, rule learning, and correction	30	(2)
Learning abstract words	32	(2)
Memory and logic in language learning	34	(3)
The Deaf and Language: Sign, Oral, Written	37	(28)
Sign language: a true language without speech	37	(2)
Gestures of hearing people are signs but do not form a language	39	(2)
Speech-based sign languages	41	(4)
Independent Sign Languages (ISLs) such as American Sign Language (ASL)	45	(3)
The Oral Approach and Total Communication	48	(2)
The sign language vs. Oral Approach controversy	50	(1)
Public recognition of ASL and growth of deaf pride	51	(3)
The Steinberg Written Language Approach for complete communication	54	(4)
A programme for teaching written languages	58	(7)
Reading Principles and Teaching	65	(26)
Writing systems and speech	65	(3)
The Whole-Word vs. Phonics/Decoding controversy	68	(14)
A universal four-phase reading programme	82	(7)
The advantages of early reading for pre-school age children	89	(2)
Wild and Isolated Children and the Critical Age Issue for Language Learning	91	(13)
Victor: The Wild Boy of Aveyron	91	(2)
Genie: raised-in isolation	93	(2)
Isabelle: confinement with a mute mother	95	(1)
Chelsea: began to learn language at age 32	96	(1)
Helen Keller: the renowned deaf and blind girl	97	(2)
Oxana and Edik: raised by dogs	99	(1)
A critical age for first-language learning?	100	(4)
Animals and Language Learning	104	(17)
Teaching spoken English to apes	104	(2)
Teaching sign language to the chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan	106	(5)
Teaching artificial languages to chimpanzees	111	(2)
Teaching language to dolphins	113	(3)
Teaching spoken English to an African Grey parrot	116	(1)
Teaching Rico the dog to understand spoken English words	117	(1)
Conclusion	118	(1)
Websites for more information	118	(3)
Part 2 Second-Language Learning	121	(54)
Children vs. Adults in Second-Language Learning	123	(15)
Children are better: a common belief	123	(1)
Basic psychological factors affecting second-language learning	124	(6)
Social situations affecting second-language learning	130	(5)
Is there a critical age for second-language learning?	135	(3)
Second-Language Teaching Methods	138	(22)
Characterizing the essentials of methods	138	(1)
Traditional methods: Grammar-Translation, Natural, Direct, Audiolingual	139	(7)
Offbeat methods appear then disappear: Cognitive Code, Community Language Learning, Silent Way, Suggestopedia	146	(1)
Contemporary methods: Total Physical Response, Communicative Language Teaching, Natural Approach, Content-Based Instruction, Task-Based Language Teaching, Computer-Assisted Language Learning	147	(11)
Goals must be considered in the selection of a teaching method	158	(2)
Bilingualism, Intelligence, Transfer, and Learning Strategies	160	(15)
Varieties of bilingualism	160	(1)
Is bilingualism beneficial or detrimental?	161	(1)
Effects of early bilingualism on first-language development and intelligence	162	(3)
Sequential and simultaneous learning situations	165	(4)
Strategies for second-language production	169	(3)
Teaching reading in a bilingual situation at home	172	(3)
Part 3 Language, Mind and Brain	175	(88)
Language, Thought and Culture	177	(22)
A relationship at the heart of psycholinguistics	177	(2)
Four theories regarding the dependence of thought and culture on language	179	(1)
Theory 1: Speech is essential for thought	180	(3)
Theory 2: Language is essential for thought	183	(3)
Theory 3: Language determines or shapes our perception of nature	186	(5)
Theory 4: Language determines or shapes our cultural world view	191	(3)
Erroneous beliefs underlying the four theories	194	(2)
The best theory: Thought is independent of language	196	(3)
Where Does Language Knowledge Come From? Intelligence, Innate Language Ideas, Behaviour?	199	(18)
How do we acquire knowledge?	199	(1)
Mentalism vs. Materialism	200	(2)
Behaviourist wars: Materialism vs. Epiphenomenalism vs. Reductionism	202	(1)
Philosophical Functionalism and our objections to it	203	(2)
Mentalist wars: Empiricism's Intelligence vs. Rationalism's Innate Ideas	205	(3)
Chomskyan arguments for innate language ideas and the inadequacy of those arguments	208	(8)
It is time for Emergentism to re-emerge?	216	(1)
Natural Grammar, Mind and Speaker Performance	217	(25)
Psychological criteria for assessing grammars	217	(4)
The explanatory inadequacy of Chomsky's syntax-based grammar	221	(5)
Performance-related grammars	226	(1)
Primacy of speech comprehension	227	(2)
Inadequacy of Functionalist and Cognitive grammars	229	(1)
How the child learns a Natural Grammar	230	(9)
Towards a theory of Natural Grammar in relation to thought and its functioning in the comprehension and production of sentences	239	(3)
Language and the Brain	242	(21)
General brain structure and function	242	(3)
Hemispheric structure and function	245	(5)
Language areas and their functioning	250	(2)
Right-hemisphere language abilities	252	(2)
The bilingual brain	254	(1)
Sign language	255	(1)
Language disorders: aphasias	256	(5)
Methods of investigating brain and language	261	(2)
References	263	(31)
Author index	294	(5)
Subject index	299