Research Paper on Language as an Exemplar to Cognitive Psychology

Introduction

Language has been said by many to be the aspect that separates human beings from lower species. Language has made it possible for people from different cultures and customs to share ideas with ease. However, after several studies that have been conducted in the field of psychoanalysis, it has been established that language can be used as an exemplar of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology is the study of the mental practices which include attention, language use, perception, creativity, thinking and problem solving (Anderson 2015). This paper highlights the fact that language has a correlation with cognitive psychology given that it encourages the use of skills that require a lot of creativity hence the mind is highly involved in the entire process.

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Language can be used as an exemplar of the cognitive theory due to the fact that the procedure of learning it demands someone to be able to utilize as many skills as possible. In addition, when one is learning a language they are expected to utilize several functions that are directly linked to the cognitive theory of psychology. Cognitive theory is made up of several principles which include; attention, the perception of data, reception among others. When cognitive and language is well linked, decision making and problem-solving (among other aspects) will be realized. Language means individuals can comprehend each other; hence things like decision making will be enhanced by it. However, in case there is a problem that needs to be solved an individual will identify the grievances of the involved parties (Carruthers, 1996). This will happen through communication, each individual will issue information concerning the problem at hand. The principle of attention will be vital as one tries to solve a conflict. After collecting enough information, one will address the issue at hand and be able to solve the entire problem through the use of language using the tools of cognitive theory o psychology.

The cognitive theory of psychology has different functions of language explained in various ways. Language is one tool that is highly used in human thinking. According to Lucy (1992), language is the medium of all human conceptual thinking as well as communication. However, this shows how language and cognitive theory work together to bring effectiveness in communication. One of the principles used in the cognitive theory of psychology is attention. As from the way human beings learn a language, it is clear one has to be attentive. However, this is seen especially for growing kids who are learning how to speak from family members. Such kids will be keen on mastering every word they hear being spoken by their parents or siblings.

The other principle of cognitive psychology is the formation of concepts. Formation of concepts is a situation where human beings are said to be able to put together their experiences into categories (Chomsky, 1976). However, all this is done in relevant to the gathered information concerning a certain experience. Gathering such information will be through the use of language and this point why language and cognitive psychology are intertwined. Another cognitive psychology belief is judgment and decision making. Human beings are different from other animals because they can think logically and make sound decisions. Besides, one will give judgment depending on what they concerning the subject of discussion. The judgment given will determine the decision one will make. Again before making any judgment one will be expected to gather enough information so as to issue an informed judgment and it is only through the use of language one will be able to gather enough information concerning the issue at hand.

Cognitive psychology deals with the subject of language processing. Through this subject, the cognitive theory will try to explore more on how languages are acquired and introduced to human beings. Language processing includes things like the psychology of reading and writing and this is again a sign that the two are well linked and highly dependent on each other (Chomsky 1976).

Learning is part of cognitive psychology and it all entails the use of language. Learning gives individuals more knowledge on how to improve their languages and again it enables individuals to learn new languages. As from the principles of psychology, it is clear that language can be used as an exemplar of cognitive psychology, in various ways. The use of a language one to be well equipped with various skills as discussed in the cognitive psychology theory (1934). Learning is part of the cognitive theory and there is no way one will learn without the use of language (Vygotsky, 1934). Through learning the mind of man is equipped with the right information and this allows such individuals to make the right decision in life. Perception is a subject found in cognitive psychology. Perception comprises the senses and being able to make a decision based on what one senses. One can only make good use of senses once they recognize them. Recognition of senses comes with the available information availed in various languages depending on one's custom or culture (Gopnik 2001).

There are various benefits that cognitive psychology brings to human beings through the use of their minds. All this happens through the use of language as an exemplar of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology facilitates education, this happens through the various techniques offered by cognitive psychology. Through cognitive psychology students will be able to think logically and have a clear understanding of what they are being taught in school. However, these cognitive skills will help students to interpret any information provided to them by their tutors. Cognitive psychology is said to facilitate the process of child growth. Through cognitive theory, children are able to learn more concerning their surroundings (Anderson, 2015). Through cognitive theory growing children are in a position to master some members of their family.

One of the things that are also very debatable is the communication aspect of human beings. A lot of researchers suggest that it is only possible because of the relationship that exists between language and cognitive psychology and this is what sets apart the whole concept of why human beings are tones smarter than other apes. Whorf, a psychologist suggested that language is the key determinant of how people think and what they use to think. However, there are several studies that have not supported the idea such as the study of deaf children which ends up showing that the two subjects have no correlation whatsoever (Anderson, 2015).

Apes are known to learn sign language very easily although their inability to communicate as effectively as human beings, according to some researchers is what brings in the difference in IQ. There is also a contradicting study that supports cognitive values, thinking, and language, in apes. There was a study that was done on the wild child that originated from France. The child spent a lot of years in the wilderness without any interactions with human beings and as a result, was totally unable to communicate using any language but instead could only utter animal sounds. This brought a lot of controversy to the relation between language and cognitive thinking in human beings (Carruthers 1996). The major question that it brought forth was the roles that nurture and nature has in language development and if at all that extends to the cognitive power of a human being (Nelson 1996). One of the major debates is whether a person who is coherent and very fluent can be characterized as more intelligent than his or her counterparts who lack the same ability. There was a scientist named Nancy Chomsky who brought forth an argument that human beings are born wired biologically to learn language at both a certain time and also in a certain way. This, therefore, according to her, is a very important phenomenon in determining the milestones of development of an individual (Chomsky, 1976).

Conclusion

In conclusion, language is the appropriate exemplar of cognitive psychology because it is interdependent from other cognition processes. Individuals must perceive and interpret data in the mind for them to communicate their feelings or reaction through language. Likewise, language depicts the cultural aspect of people because culture contributes to cognition. People are socialized differently based on their cultural and societal values. Apart from that, the learning process is closely linked to speech, clearly indicating that language is an exemplar to cognitive psychology.

Reference

Anderson, J. R., (2015). Cognitive psychology and its implications (8th ed.). New York, NY:

Worth Publishers.Carruthers, P. (1996). Language, Thought, and Consciousness. Cambridge University Press.Chomsky, N. (1976). Reflections on Language. Temple Smith.Gopnik, A. (2001). Theories, language, and culture. In: Language Acquisition and Conceptual

Development, eds. M. Bowerman and S. Levinson. Cambridge University Press.Lucy, J. (1992a). Language Diversity and Thought: a reformulation of the linguistic relativity

hypothesis. Cambridge University Press.Nelson, C. (1996). Language in Cognitive Development. Cambridge University Press.Vygotsky, L. (1934). Thought and Language. Trans. Kozulin, MIT Press, 1986.