Week 2
Reflect on the readings. What parts of the brain are most important for the production and comprehension of speech?
In speech production: Thought is generated in Wernicke’s area, encoded in Borac’s area and the signals are passed to articulatory organs. (Crystal, 2005)
In speech comprehension: The auditory cortex receives signals from ear and transfers it to Weirnecke’s are, where it is interpreted. (Crystal, 2005)
The Weirnecke’s area is the common denominator.
How do you conceptualize or process meaning?
The most common mechanisms for deriving meaning from a lexeme are:
- Grouping them – by field of meaning, or function in speech, for example.
- Observing the position and associated lexemes – where is it used? And with what other lexemes?
- Associating lexemes – either by similarity or opposition, associating words or phrases helps increase vocabulary.
Do these readings bring to mind any questions or motivations that could help promote your foreign-language abilities, retention, and recollection?
What I found most interesting in the reading was the idea of how different populations use their languages to represent the world around them. I think it showed a strong correlation between language and culture. Knowing that there are aspects in any language that are inherent to the culture where it grew is exciting, because now I see my language study as an opportunity to have a peak at a new foreign culture before I get the chance to travel there!
Comments
I completely agree about the strong relationship between language and culture and how important it is to learn about the culture when learning a language. Learning a language can be difficult, but understanding where it is derived from and the culture that it represents can make it a lot easier. By trying to learn about the culture that languages are derived from, I think it creates a great appreciation for the language. For instance, the language that I am learning is Bengali and Bangladeshis fought for this language. Before the Independence War, Pakistan tried their utmost to change Bangladesh's language from Bengali to Urdu, but Bangladesh fought for their language and that is why it is still present at the moment. This war was something I had not known before learning the language, and it has definitely made me be proud and appreciative of the language I am learning. Also, going back to the content you mentioned earlier about the reading, forming these connections between the language and culture ultimately allows me to remember and recollect the stuff that I learn with my learning partner.