Which of the following students provides the best summary of the viewpoint that language is modular?
a. Eleanor: We can generate a virtually infinite number of sentences in a given language.
b. Anthony: We process language in a different way than we perform other cognitive tasks.
c. Svetlana: Language is interconnected with many other cognitive tasks, such as working memory and decision making.
d. Oswald: Language is based on the model that memory is divided into sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory.
Question 2Some linguists emphasize that language is basically different from other cognitive skills, and it also operates according to a different set of principles. According to this perspective, language is
a. nested.
b. pragmatic.
c. lateralized.
d. modular.
Question 3In the sentence, Chris called up the psychology professor, what is the surface structure?
a. Chris called professor.
b. The psychology professor was called up by Chris.
c. Chris called up the psychology professor.
d. Chris (subject) called up (verb) the psychology professor (object).
Question 4According to the introduction on language comprehension (Chapter 9),
a. language requires very little active processing of information; language comprehension is primarily automatic.
b. language can be described in terms of a relatively small number of specific tasks.
c. language is not closely related to other cognitive tasks.
d. we consult our background knowledge, which is related to language, so we can understand complex ideas.