P2.L Language, Thought and Communication — Topic Overview

This topic examines the relationship between language and thought, non-verbal communication, and how language develops.

Language and thought — key theories

Piaget: Thought comes before language. Children develop cognitive schemas first; language then expresses thought. Language development mirrors cognitive development stages.

Vygotsky: Language and thought are initially separate but merge around age 2. Language then drives cognitive development. Private speech (talking aloud to oneself) is a tool for thinking; it becomes internalised as inner speech.

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity): The language we speak shapes the way we think. A strong version says without a word for something, we cannot think about it. A weaker version (now more widely accepted) says language influences (but does not entirely determine) thought.

Evidence for linguistic relativity: Inuit people have many words for snow and may perceive snow differently; speakers of languages without words for certain colours have difficulty discriminating those colours in tasks.

Non-verbal communication (NVC)

Communication without words. Types include:

• Facial expressions — universally recognised across cultures (Ekman — six basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, surprise)
• Eye contact — signals attention, interest, dominance
• Gestures — vary by culture; some are universal (e.g. pointing)
• Personal space (proxemics) — comfortable distance varies by culture and relationship (Hall)
• Posture — open vs closed; dominance vs submission
• Touch — highly context-dependent

Functions of NVC: regulate conversation, complement or contradict verbal messages, express emotion, establish status.

Language development

Children produce babbling (6 months), first words (~12 months), two-word utterances (~18 months), telegraphic speech (~2 years), full sentences (~3-4 years). Nature-nurture debate: Chomsky proposed a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) — an innate mechanism for acquiring grammar. Behaviourists (Skinner) argued language is learned through reinforcement.

Exam focus

• Compare Piaget and Vygotsky on the language-thought relationship
• Evaluate the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (strong vs weak version)
• Give examples of NVC and evaluate its cross-cultural universality