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    Hardwired For Language

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    Bagwis Maya
    The primary reason why animals and humans have different linguistic abilities is due to differences in brain anatomy. The passage provides evidence that grammar is hardwired in the human brain based on a study of deaf boys in Nicaragua who independently developed gestural languages that followed the same grammatical structures as spoken languages, despite having no exposure to an existing language. The document discusses how the human brain is hardwired for language acquisition but the specific language learned depends on a child's environment.

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    Hardwired For Language

    Uploaded by

    Bagwis Maya
    417 views2 pages
    The primary reason why animals and humans have different linguistic abilities is due to differences in brain anatomy. The passage provides evidence that grammar is hardwired in the human brain based on a study of deaf boys in Nicaragua who independently developed gestural languages that followed the same grammatical structures as spoken languages, despite having no exposure to an existing language. The document discusses how the human brain is hardwired for language acquisition but the specific language learned depends on a child's environment.

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    reading text for incoming g11 students

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    Hardwired for Language

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    The primary reason why animals and humans have different linguistic abilities is due to differences in brain anatomy. The passage provides evidence that grammar is hardwired in the human brain based on a study of deaf boys in Nicaragua who independently developed gestural languages that followed the same grammatical structures as spoken languages, despite having no exposure to an existing language. The document discusses how the human brain is hardwired for language acquisition but the specific language learned depends on a child's environment.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    417 views2 pages

    Hardwired For Language

    Uploaded by

    Bagwis Maya
    The primary reason why animals and humans have different linguistic abilities is due to differences in brain anatomy. The passage provides evidence that grammar is hardwired in the human brain based on a study of deaf boys in Nicaragua who independently developed gestural languages that followed the same grammatical structures as spoken languages, despite having no exposure to an existing language. The document discusses how the human brain is hardwired for language acquisition but the specific language learned depends on a child's environment.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Hardwired for Language

    All creatures communicate with their own kind, whether through scent
    messages, body language, or audible signals. In most cases, the
    communication involves marking or defending territory, seeking a mate,
    warning of danger, and engaging in similar daily life or survival behavior.
    Although the warning calls of chickadees and prairie dogs convey a lot of
    information about the type of threat, animals and humans share certain
    linguistic abilities and don’t share certain others. Why? A minor part of the
    reason is the structure of the throat, but the primary reason is the anatomy of
    the brain.

    While neuroscientists are interested in language only in relation to the


    brain, linguists are interested in language itself—especially in how language
    develops. Linguists agree the human brain is hardwired for language, but the
    language learned depends on what a young child hears spoken.

    Grammar is also hardwired in the human brain. Linguists had noticed


    similarities in the structure of all languages, but they had no solid evidence to
    back up the theory that grammar was innate. Then researchers from the
    University of Rochester studied three boys in Nicaragua who had been deaf
    from birth. None of the boys knew an official sign language, but each of
    them had developed his own unique gestural language. Researchers
    devised an experiment in which each boy viewed a series of sixty-six brief
    videos that showed a person performing a single action. They boy would
    then use his gestural language to describe what he’d seen. Every time, the
    sequencing, or order, of the gestures showed the same grammatical
    structure that is present in spoken languages! This proved to the linguists that
    grammatical structure was indeed hardwired because these boys had never
    had any exposure to language.
    Bilingual or not, here is how to make the best use of your brain:

    1. Get enough sleep. Concentration and memory are thought to


    suffer when you are sleep-deprived.
    2. Eat sensibly. Students who eat high-protein, high-fiber breakfasts
    had higher scores than those who had sodas and sweets.
    3. Be physically active. Exercise stimulates the growth of new brain
    cells.
    4. Be mentally active. Boost your brain’s flexibility by doing activities
    such as reading, solving puzzles, taking new subjects, and staying
    socially active.
    Questions:

    1. What is the primary reason why animals and humans have different
    linguistic abilities?
    a. Brain anatomy
    b. Throat structure
    c. Survival behaviors
    d. Hearing ability
    2. What is the intended meaning of the phrase “the human brain is
    hardwired for language?
    a. Language is based on learning.
    b. Gestures show language development.
    c. Grammar and language are innate.
    d. Sign and spoken languages have similar structures.
    3. What is the main idea of the passage Hardwired for Language?
    a. Language acquisition in humans is a result of many contributing
    factors.
    b. Language and brain development in animals and humans are
    closely linked.
    c. Humans must learn a second language in order to increase brain
    capacity.
    d. Spoken language developed from early humans’ use of gesture.
    4. Which among the following are the effects of sleep deprivation?
    a. Lowered concentration and memory
    b. Physical Inactivity
    c. Poor Diet
    d. Mental Disorders
    5. Which among the following contrasts neuroscience and linguistics?
    a. Both are interested in the brain.
    b. Neuroscience investigates language in relation to the brain; linguists
    study the language itself.
    c. Neuroscience investigates language in relation to the brain; linguists
    study the language itself.
    d. Both study the brain and the development of language.
    6. Based on the research mention above, which of the following is NOT
    true about grammar?
    a. Verbal and sign language both have grammars.
    b. The grammars of verbal and sign language are highly similar.
    c. The grammars of verbal and sign language are highly different.
    d. Grammar is hard-wired in the human brain.

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