PSY 244 Final Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
How are human language and animal communication alike?
How are they different? Another way to ask this question is, are there certain
qualities of human language that, according to linguists, distinguish it from animal
communication
if so , what are they? - ANSWER-both are composed of signals-sounds or gestures
that have meaning to those using them
Humans use a larger repertoire of symbols, and these symbols are substantially
more complex. Also, animals have a closed vocal system: means different sounds
cannot be combined together to produce new symbols with different meanings.
Whereas, humans have an open vocal system which allows for an infinite number
of ideas to be
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,A dog may tell you it is hungry by making noises or sitting hear its food bowl. A
human may tell you it is hungry by verbally telling you that it is hungry for food
semanticity - ANSWER-Meaningfulness, the quality that a linguistic system has of
being able to convey meanings, in particular by reference to the world of physcial
reality
grammar - ANSWER-Rules for inter-relating individual elements (symbols) in
order to express more complex meanings, thus the underlying rules that specify the
order and function of words in a sentence
displacement - ANSWER-Ability to communicate information about objects,
ideas, and the like, in another time and place; things that are either not here or are
not here now
productivity - ANSWER-Ability to combine a finite number of words into an
infinite number of sentences; the degree to which native speakers use a particular
grammar process, especially in word formation. It compares grammatical processes
that are 'modern' to more 'unfashionable' ones
The French philosopher René Descartes declared that language constituted a
critical difference between humans and other animals. He also believed that
language was the basis for what he believed to be a certain capacity that not only
distinguished humans from other animals but that distinguished human adults
from pre-verbal children. What was this capacity? - ANSWER-• Although his
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,conception of animals treated them as reflux-driven machines, with no intellectual
capabilities, it is important to recognize that he took mechanistic explanation to be
perfectly adequate for explaining sensation and perception—aspects of animal
behavior that are nowadays often associated with consciousness. He drew the only
at rational thought and understanding
• Language and "articulate speech" are characteristics that make us human, give us
mind, and power of reason
psychologists use a variety of methods to study the development of language. what
are they?
which ones have been especially useful for studying pre-verbal children? -
ANSWER-1. Diary studies
2. Longitudinal studies
3. Cross-sectional studies
4. Experimental studies
5. Cross-cultural studies
6. Clinical studies of special populations; including "experiments in nature"
Phonology - ANSWER-System of sounds for a language; phonemes
• Example: the shortest speech unit in which a change, change in meaning
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, • Bat Cat (change in initial phoneme)
• Bat Bit (change in middle phoneme)
phonemes - ANSWER-The basic unit of a language's phonetic system; phonemes
are the smallest sound units that affect meaning. Phonemes are generative; they are
applicable beyond the cases on which they are based
• Example: first phoneme: bat, cat, rat
semantics - ANSWER-Greek: the study of the meaning of words and sentences
• Example: when and how does the child come to understand the meaning of
different words and sentences?
• Example: when and how does the child learn the names of things and learn to
use words to communicate meaning?
prosody - ANSWER-Pattern of sounds superimposed on the ongoing stream of
speech that signal differences in the meanings of words or sentences; stress
• Example: stress, tone, intonation
morphology - ANSWER-The study of morphemes, language's smallest units of
meaning. Rules for altering root words to produce plurals, past tenses, and
inflections
morpheme - ANSWER-A language's smallest unit of meaning, such as a prefix, a
suffix, or a root word
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Answers 100% Pass
How are human language and animal communication alike?
How are they different? Another way to ask this question is, are there certain
qualities of human language that, according to linguists, distinguish it from animal
communication
if so , what are they? - ANSWER-both are composed of signals-sounds or gestures
that have meaning to those using them
Humans use a larger repertoire of symbols, and these symbols are substantially
more complex. Also, animals have a closed vocal system: means different sounds
cannot be combined together to produce new symbols with different meanings.
Whereas, humans have an open vocal system which allows for an infinite number
of ideas to be
COPYRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, TRUSTED AND VERIFIED 1
,A dog may tell you it is hungry by making noises or sitting hear its food bowl. A
human may tell you it is hungry by verbally telling you that it is hungry for food
semanticity - ANSWER-Meaningfulness, the quality that a linguistic system has of
being able to convey meanings, in particular by reference to the world of physcial
reality
grammar - ANSWER-Rules for inter-relating individual elements (symbols) in
order to express more complex meanings, thus the underlying rules that specify the
order and function of words in a sentence
displacement - ANSWER-Ability to communicate information about objects,
ideas, and the like, in another time and place; things that are either not here or are
not here now
productivity - ANSWER-Ability to combine a finite number of words into an
infinite number of sentences; the degree to which native speakers use a particular
grammar process, especially in word formation. It compares grammatical processes
that are 'modern' to more 'unfashionable' ones
The French philosopher René Descartes declared that language constituted a
critical difference between humans and other animals. He also believed that
language was the basis for what he believed to be a certain capacity that not only
distinguished humans from other animals but that distinguished human adults
from pre-verbal children. What was this capacity? - ANSWER-• Although his
COPYRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, TRUSTED AND VERIFIED 2
,conception of animals treated them as reflux-driven machines, with no intellectual
capabilities, it is important to recognize that he took mechanistic explanation to be
perfectly adequate for explaining sensation and perception—aspects of animal
behavior that are nowadays often associated with consciousness. He drew the only
at rational thought and understanding
• Language and "articulate speech" are characteristics that make us human, give us
mind, and power of reason
psychologists use a variety of methods to study the development of language. what
are they?
which ones have been especially useful for studying pre-verbal children? -
ANSWER-1. Diary studies
2. Longitudinal studies
3. Cross-sectional studies
4. Experimental studies
5. Cross-cultural studies
6. Clinical studies of special populations; including "experiments in nature"
Phonology - ANSWER-System of sounds for a language; phonemes
• Example: the shortest speech unit in which a change, change in meaning
COPYRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, TRUSTED AND VERIFIED 3
, • Bat Cat (change in initial phoneme)
• Bat Bit (change in middle phoneme)
phonemes - ANSWER-The basic unit of a language's phonetic system; phonemes
are the smallest sound units that affect meaning. Phonemes are generative; they are
applicable beyond the cases on which they are based
• Example: first phoneme: bat, cat, rat
semantics - ANSWER-Greek: the study of the meaning of words and sentences
• Example: when and how does the child come to understand the meaning of
different words and sentences?
• Example: when and how does the child learn the names of things and learn to
use words to communicate meaning?
prosody - ANSWER-Pattern of sounds superimposed on the ongoing stream of
speech that signal differences in the meanings of words or sentences; stress
• Example: stress, tone, intonation
morphology - ANSWER-The study of morphemes, language's smallest units of
meaning. Rules for altering root words to produce plurals, past tenses, and
inflections
morpheme - ANSWER-A language's smallest unit of meaning, such as a prefix, a
suffix, or a root word
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