Steven Pinker: Linguistics as a Window to Understanding the Brain | Big Think

Summary

In this enlightening talk, Professor Steve Pinker of Harvard University explores the marvels of language as a window into the human mind. He discusses language's fundamental role in human cooperation and its scientific mysteries, such as evolution and brain computation. Pinker emphasizes language's expressive power and its universal presence across cultures, touching on the differences between spoken language, written language, and proper grammar. He also delves into the intricate nature of linguistics, including grammar, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics, highlighting the complex cognitive processes behind language acquisition and use.

Takeaways

• 📚 Steve Pinker is a cognitive scientist and professor of psychology at Harvard University, with a focus on language as a window to the human mind.
• 🗣️ Language is a fundamental human trait that distinguishes us from other species and is essential for cooperation and sharing knowledge.
• 🤔 The evolution and computational aspects of language in the brain present profound scientific mysteries that cognitive science aims to unravel.
• 🌐 Language's expressive power is vast, allowing the communication of diverse thoughts and ideas through a complex system of sounds and symbols.
• 👶 Language acquisition in children is a natural process, with kids learning grammar rules intuitively from the language they are exposed to.
• 🔍 Chomsky's contributions to linguistics emphasize the innate structure of language and the creative potential of syntax in forming sentences.
• 🧠 The mental lexicon is extensive, with an average person capable of learning and retaining a vocabulary of around 60,000 words.
• 🎶 Phonology, the study of sound in language, is governed by rules that determine possible word structures and adjustments in pronunciation.
• 👄 Speech production involves the physical manipulation of the vocal tract to create distinct sounds that convey meaning.
• 👂 Speech comprehension is a complex process that requires the brain to interpret continuous sound waves and segment them into understandable words.
• 🤝 Pragmatics, the study of language in context, involves using world knowledge and social cues to derive meaning from language beyond the literal interpretation.

Q & A

Who is Steve Pinker and what is his profession?

Steve Pinker is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Although he is not a linguist, he is a cognitive scientist interested in language as a window to the human mind.

What are the fundamental topics in human sciences related to language?

Language is a fundamental topic in human sciences because it is the trait that most conspicuously distinguishes humans from other species, it is essential to human cooperation, and it poses profound scientific mysteries such as its evolution and brain computation.

Why is language considered a 'miracle' according to the speaker?

Language is considered a 'miracle' due to its vast expressive power, allowing humans to share a wide array of ideas and thoughts through a complex system of sounds and symbols.

How many languages are spoken on Earth and what does this imply about language and human societies?

There are approximately 6,000 languages spoken on Earth. This implies that language is a universal feature of human societies, with each society having developed its own complex language.

What is the difference between descriptive and prescriptive grammar according to linguists?

Descriptive grammar refers to the rules that characterize how people actually speak, while prescriptive grammar refers to the rules that dictate how people should speak, particularly in formal written prose.

Why do children make errors when applying the past tense rule in English?

Children make errors when applying the past tense rule because they often overgeneralize the regular rule of adding 'ed' to regular verbs, mistakenly applying it to irregular verbs as well.

What is the 'Wug Test' and what does it demonstrate about children's understanding of language?

The 'Wug Test' is a laboratory demonstration where children are shown a made-up creature named 'wug' and then asked about multiple instances of it. It demonstrates that children have an intuitive understanding of grammar rules, as they correctly apply the plural form 'wugs' even though they have never heard it before.

What is the 'poverty of the input' argument proposed by Chomsky and what does it suggest about language acquisition?

The 'poverty of the input' argument suggests that the language children are exposed to is not sufficient to explain their sophisticated linguistic abilities as adults. It implies that children must have an innate knowledge of language structure, or 'universal grammar', which aids in language acquisition.

What is phonology and why is it important in language?

Phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies the sound patterns of language and the rules governing how vowels and consonants can be assembled into words. It is important because it defines the permissible sound combinations in a language, influencing how words are formed and pronounced.

Why is speech comprehension a complex computational process for computers?

Speech comprehension is complex for computers due to factors like co-articulation, where the pronunciation of a sound changes based on surrounding sounds, and the absence of segmentation, as speech does not have clear boundaries between words like written text does.

What is the role of pragmatics in understanding language and how does it differ from a computer's literal interpretation?

Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics concerned with understanding language in context, using the speaker's knowledge of the world and communication norms. It differs from a computer's literal interpretation because it involves understanding implied meanings, social cues, and context, which computers lack without specific programming.