AP Psychology Flashcards: Communication And Language Development

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Communication And Language Development, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What does the term 'language universals' refer to?

Answer: Features or characteristics common to all languages. Suggests all humans share basic language structures and capabilities.

Flashcard 2: Define phoneme.

Answer: The smallest distinctive sound unit in a language. Different phonemes create different word meanings in each language.

Flashcard 3: What role does Wernicke's area play in communication?

Answer: Involved in language comprehension. Damage here causes fluent but meaningless speech with poor understanding.

Flashcard 4: What is a creole language?

Answer: A stable, natural language developed from a mixture of languages. Emerges when pidgin becomes the primary language of a community.

Flashcard 5: Which communication disorder involves difficulty in understanding language?

Answer: Wernicke's aphasia. Results from damage to the brain's language comprehension center.

Flashcard 6: What does bilingualism refer to?

Answer: The ability to speak two languages fluently. Can provide cognitive benefits and enhanced mental flexibility.

Flashcard 7: What characterizes the one-word stage in language development?

Answer: Use of single words to convey whole sentences. Child relies on context and gestures to communicate complete thoughts.

Flashcard 8: Define overgeneralization in language development.

Answer: Applying rules of grammar too widely. Example: saying 'goed' instead of 'went' for past tense.

Flashcard 9: What is an expressive language skill?

Answer: Ability to produce spoken or written language. Includes speaking fluency and writing composition abilities.

Flashcard 10: Identify a primary feature of motherese or child-directed speech.

Answer: Simplified vocabulary and exaggerated intonation. Helps infants focus attention and learn language patterns more easily.

Flashcard 11: Which theory emphasizes reinforcement in language acquisition?

Answer: Behaviorist theory. Correct language use is rewarded, incorrect use is discouraged.

Flashcard 12: Which theory emphasizes imitation in language learning?

Answer: Behaviorist theory. Children learn language by copying what they hear from others.

Flashcard 13: Identify a key feature of pidgin languages.

Answer: Simplified grammar and vocabulary for communication. Develops when groups need basic communication without shared language.

Flashcard 14: What is an expressive language skill?

Answer: Ability to produce spoken or written language. Includes speaking fluency and writing composition abilities.

Flashcard 15: Which communication disorder involves difficulty in producing speech?

Answer: Broca's aphasia. Results from damage to the brain's speech production center.

Flashcard 16: Which brain hemisphere is typically dominant for language?

Answer: The left hemisphere. Contains Broca's and Wernicke's areas for language processing.

Flashcard 17: What is the purpose of the critical period hypothesis in language?

Answer: Suggests optimal periods for language learning. Explains why early exposure to language is crucial for normal development.

Flashcard 18: Identify the language development stage characterized by two-word sentences.

Answer: The telegraphic speech stage. Children combine two meaningful words to express complex ideas.

Flashcard 19: What is code-switching in bilingual communication?

Answer: Alternating between two languages in conversation. Common among bilingual speakers who seamlessly blend languages.

Flashcard 20: What is code-switching in bilingual communication?

Answer: Alternating between two languages in conversation. Common among bilingual speakers who seamlessly blend languages.

Flashcard 21: What is a creole language?

Answer: A stable, natural language developed from a mixture of languages. Emerges when pidgin becomes the primary language of a community.

Flashcard 22: What is the name of Chomsky's theoretical construct for language acquisition?

Answer: Language Acquisition Device (LAD). Theoretical brain mechanism that makes language learning possible.

Flashcard 23: What is overextension in language development?

Answer: Using a word too broadly, beyond its intended meaning. Example: calling all four-legged animals 'doggie'.

Flashcard 24: Which theory emphasizes imitation in language learning?

Answer: Behaviorist theory. Children learn language by copying what they hear from others.

Flashcard 25: What is the purpose of a language immersion program?

Answer: To teach a language through complete submersion. Creates natural learning environment similar to first language acquisition.

Flashcard 26: What is underextension in language development?

Answer: Using a word too narrowly, applying it to only one object. Example: only calling the family pet 'dog', not other dogs.

Flashcard 27: What is a protolanguage?

Answer: A hypothetical undocumented parent language. Reconstructed by comparing similarities across modern related languages.

Flashcard 28: What is the definition of language in psychology?

Answer: A system for communicating with others using signals with grammar rules. Distinguishes language from simple communication by emphasizing structured rules.

Flashcard 29: What does the term 'language universals' refer to?

Answer: Features or characteristics common to all languages. Suggests all humans share basic language structures and capabilities.

Flashcard 30: What is the function of Broca's area?

Answer: Responsible for language production and speech. Damage here causes difficulty speaking but comprehension remains intact.

Flashcard 31: What is the linguistic determinism hypothesis?

Answer: Language determines the way we think. Strong version of linguistic relativity; thought is impossible without language.

Flashcard 32: Which communication disorder involves difficulty in understanding language?

Answer: Wernicke's aphasia. Results from damage to the brain's language comprehension center.

Flashcard 33: Which theory emphasizes reinforcement in language acquisition?

Answer: Behaviorist theory. Correct language use is rewarded, incorrect use is discouraged.

Flashcard 34: What is the function of Broca's area?

Answer: Responsible for language production and speech. Damage here causes difficulty speaking but comprehension remains intact.

Flashcard 35: What characterizes the one-word stage in language development?

Answer: Use of single words to convey whole sentences. Child relies on context and gestures to communicate complete thoughts.

Flashcard 36: What is fast mapping in language development?

Answer: Rapid learning of new words with minimal exposure. Enables vocabulary explosion during early childhood development.

Flashcard 37: What is the purpose of the critical period hypothesis in language?

Answer: Suggests optimal periods for language learning. Explains why early exposure to language is crucial for normal development.

Flashcard 38: Define overgeneralization in language development.

Answer: Applying rules of grammar too widely. Example: saying 'goed' instead of 'went' for past tense.

Flashcard 39: What is the primary focus of pragmatics in language?

Answer: The use of language in social contexts. Includes understanding conversational rules, tone, and appropriate language use.

Flashcard 40: Which communication disorder involves difficulty in producing speech?

Answer: Broca's aphasia. Results from damage to the brain's speech production center.

Flashcard 41: Identify the main focus of semantics in language.

Answer: The meaning of words and sentences. Studies how words relate to their referents and concepts.

Flashcard 42: Which stage of language development involves babbling?

Answer: The pre-linguistic stage, typically around 4-6 months. Infants experiment with sounds, practicing for later speech production.

Flashcard 43: What is the purpose of a language immersion program?

Answer: To teach a language through complete submersion. Creates natural learning environment similar to first language acquisition.

Flashcard 44: Identify the main idea behind Chomsky's theory of language.

Answer: Humans have an innate capacity for language acquisition. Argues against purely learned language acquisition through environmental exposure.

Flashcard 45: What is the role of the angular gyrus in language?

Answer: Involved in reading and writing. Connects visual word forms with their sounds and meanings.

Flashcard 46: Which stage of language development involves babbling?

Answer: The pre-linguistic stage, typically around 4-6 months. Infants experiment with sounds, practicing for later speech production.

Flashcard 47: Identify the critical period for language acquisition.

Answer: The first few years of life, typically before puberty. After this window, language learning becomes significantly more difficult.

Flashcard 48: Identify a key feature of pidgin languages.

Answer: Simplified grammar and vocabulary for communication. Develops when groups need basic communication without shared language.

Flashcard 49: What is meant by linguistic relativity?

Answer: Language shapes thought and perception. Core concept of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis about language and cognition.

Flashcard 50: What is meant by linguistic relativity?

Answer: Language shapes thought and perception. Core concept of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis about language and cognition.

Flashcard 51: Define phoneme.

Answer: The smallest distinctive sound unit in a language. Different phonemes create different word meanings in each language.

Flashcard 52: What is fast mapping in language development?

Answer: Rapid learning of new words with minimal exposure. Enables vocabulary explosion during early childhood development.

Flashcard 53: Identify the main focus of semantics in language.

Answer: The meaning of words and sentences. Studies how words relate to their referents and concepts.

Flashcard 54: What is a receptive language skill?

Answer: Ability to understand spoken or written language. Includes listening comprehension and reading comprehension abilities.

Flashcard 55: What is a receptive language skill?

Answer: Ability to understand spoken or written language. Includes listening comprehension and reading comprehension abilities.

Flashcard 56: What is underextension in language development?

Answer: Using a word too narrowly, applying it to only one object. Example: only calling the family pet 'dog', not other dogs.

Flashcard 57: Which brain hemisphere is typically dominant for language?

Answer: The left hemisphere. Contains Broca's and Wernicke's areas for language processing.

Flashcard 58: What is the role of the angular gyrus in language?

Answer: Involved in reading and writing. Connects visual word forms with their sounds and meanings.

Flashcard 59: What does syntax refer to in language?

Answer: The rules for combining words into sentences. Grammar rules that determine proper sentence structure and word order.

Flashcard 60: What is the primary focus of pragmatics in language?

Answer: The use of language in social contexts. Includes understanding conversational rules, tone, and appropriate language use.

Flashcard 61: What is a protolanguage?

Answer: A hypothetical undocumented parent language. Reconstructed by comparing similarities across modern related languages.

Flashcard 62: Identify the language development stage characterized by two-word sentences.

Answer: The telegraphic speech stage. Children combine two meaningful words to express complex ideas.

Flashcard 63: Identify the main idea behind Chomsky's theory of language.

Answer: Humans have an innate capacity for language acquisition. Argues against purely learned language acquisition through environmental exposure.

Flashcard 64: What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

Answer: The idea that language influences perception and thought. Also known as linguistic relativity; language shapes cognitive processes.

Flashcard 65: Identify the critical period for language acquisition.

Answer: The first few years of life, typically before puberty. After this window, language learning becomes significantly more difficult.

Flashcard 66: What role does Wernicke's area play in communication?

Answer: Involved in language comprehension. Damage here causes fluent but meaningless speech with poor understanding.

Flashcard 67: What is the difference between an accent and a dialect?

Answer: Accent refers to pronunciation; dialect includes grammar/words. Dialect encompasses broader linguistic variations including vocabulary and grammar.

Flashcard 68: Define telegraphic speech.

Answer: Early speech stage using short, simple sentences. Like telegrams, omits function words but retains essential meaning.

Flashcard 69: Identify a primary feature of motherese or child-directed speech.

Answer: Simplified vocabulary and exaggerated intonation. Helps infants focus attention and learn language patterns more easily.

Flashcard 70: What is the linguistic determinism hypothesis?

Answer: Language determines the way we think. Strong version of linguistic relativity; thought is impossible without language.

Flashcard 71: What is the name of Chomsky's theoretical construct for language acquisition?

Answer: Language Acquisition Device (LAD). Theoretical brain mechanism that makes language learning possible.

Flashcard 72: Define telegraphic speech.

Answer: Early speech stage using short, simple sentences. Like telegrams, omits function words but retains essential meaning.

Flashcard 73: What is overextension in language development?

Answer: Using a word too broadly, beyond its intended meaning. Example: calling all four-legged animals 'doggie'.

Flashcard 74: What is a morpheme in language?

Answer: The smallest unit of meaning in a language. Can be prefixes, suffixes, or root words that carry meaning.

Flashcard 75: What does bilingualism refer to?

Answer: The ability to speak two languages fluently. Can provide cognitive benefits and enhanced mental flexibility.

Flashcard 76: What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

Answer: The idea that language influences perception and thought. Also known as linguistic relativity; language shapes cognitive processes.

Flashcard 77: What is the definition of language in psychology?

Answer: A system for communicating with others using signals with grammar rules. Distinguishes language from simple communication by emphasizing structured rules.

Flashcard 78: What is the difference between an accent and a dialect?

Answer: Accent refers to pronunciation; dialect includes grammar/words. Dialect encompasses broader linguistic variations including vocabulary and grammar.

Flashcard 79: What is a morpheme in language?

Answer: The smallest unit of meaning in a language. Can be prefixes, suffixes, or root words that carry meaning.

Flashcard 80: What does syntax refer to in language?

Answer: The rules for combining words into sentences. Grammar rules that determine proper sentence structure and word order.