Thinking and Language

mental shortcut in which a person makes a decision based on emotions rather than a reasoned evaluation

step-by-step approach to problem-solving that is guided by logic

mental shortcut relying on the most easily available information to make a decision rather than making use of all available information

first stage in language acquisition, beginning at around six months, when children repeatedly utter one-syllable sounds

how the brain uses pieces of raw sensory data to create a perception

aids in speech production, located in the left frontal lobe, near the area of the brain that governs movement

mental processes that include perceiving, knowing, remembering, communicating, and deciding

mental classification of ideas, objects, or events that share common characteristics

reasoning that begins with an assumption or hypothesis, which is then tested against possible evidence

effortless thinking that makes use of instinct, intuition, schema, and heuristics to reach rapid conclusions

inability to recognize that an object can be used in ways for which it was not designed

mental shortcut that simplifies decisions by replacing a difficult question with an easier one. Heuristics are hardwired in a human brain (innate).

reasoning that begins with observations and ends with a generalization or hypothesis that fits the observations

flash of insight based on unconscious information processing

theory that language determines the nature of thought

smallest unit of meaning in language. Words, prefixes, and suffixes can be morphemes.

the ability to speak more than one language

smallest unit of speech that can be distinguished and named

mental activity people undertake to reach a goal

mental shortcut that makes assumptions about individual persons or things based on mental prototypes

framework for organizing or making sense of information based on experiences

careful, analytical reasoning used to make complex decisions

system of rules used by a language specifying how words may be arranged in sentences

developmental step in language formation in which children omit small words such as articles and prepositions from sentences

constructing knowledge from prior knowledge or experience

unconscious and innate understanding of whether a sentence has been correctly formed

brain region involved in speech comprehension, located in the left temporal lobe, near the part of the brain that governs hearing