Neurolinguistics [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

LINGUIST ICS II NEUROLINGUISTI CS Neurolinguistics is the branch of linguistics that analyzes the language impairments that follow an emphasis on the processing of spoken language when certain areas of the brain are damaged. The primary goal of the field of neurolinguistics is to understand and explicate the neurological bases of language and speech, and to characterize the mechanisms and processes involve in language use. The neurolinguistic approach stresses the role of language and speech impairments in the adult aphasias and in children, as well as reading disabilities and the lateralization of function as it relates to language and speech processing. Neurolinguistics is deeply entwined with psycholinguistics, which is the study of the language processing steps that are required for speaking and understanding words and sentences, learning first and later languages, and also of language processing in disorders of speech, language, and reading. Aphasia is defined as “language loss due to brain damage.” The cause can, for example, be an infarction (blockage of blood vessels in the brain), a hemorrhage (bursting of a blood vessel), or a head trauma. Due to neurolinguistics, we are able to understand the mechanisms and understand the functioning of our communication, both oral and written. Its importance in language acquisition relies in that this discipline studies the relation of language

and communication to different aspects of brain function, in other words it tries to explore how the brain understands and produces language and communication. Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques and analytic methods have led to a proliferation of neuroscience findings regarding the impact of bilingualism on the human brain. Neurolinguistics could be perceived as useful by educators, especially by English as a foreign language (EFL). and many scientists are fascinated by how the brain processes the learning and use of two or more languages. Learning a second language is different from learning a first language for a couple of different reasons. One is that, obviously, the language learner is not a child, so their cognitive processes might be different from those of a child. First language learning happens by being immersed in a language environment, and most of the learning is unconscious, without over teaching. In short, neurolinguistics provides language teachers with enough evidence to design an second language learning environment as much likely as possible from first language learning conditions. We can say that neurolinguistics is essential to be able to study, scientifically, the evolution of language in human beings. Thus, thanks to this discipline, we try to delve into how language is acquired by children, and how it can later be lost in elder people. Neurolinguistics is full of new and interesting research studies on how language is represented in the brain and how learning actually takes place in a neurological sense. Neurolinguistics mainly investigates linguistic development of normally developing subjects, language loss in patients with brain damage, and language use by people with specific language impairment. Neuroscience can contribute to evidence-based practices in education. 3. Cognitive processes for reading in a second language Reading in a second language (L2) is a complex task that entails an interaction between L2 and the native language (L1). This involves attempting to combine neurological/neurophysiological theory (how the brain is structured and how it functions) with linguistic theory (how language is structured and how it functions). Apart from neurology and linguistics, psychology is another central source discipline for neurolinguistics. Neurolinguistics has a very close relationship to psycholinguistics, but focuses more on studies of the brain. Considering that our speech is produced based on several different areas of our brain, it should be noted that neurolinguistics is an essential discipline that helps to understand a little more what are the lesions that cause aphasia. This discipline will

develop treatments and therapies capable of re-educating, reestablishing and rehabilitating all functions lost due to any type of injury. To understand a little more the work and the importance of neurolinguistics, it is necessary to talk about aphasia. Aphasia is a state in which the individual loses all or part of the ability to speak, as a result of injury to the areas of the brain that are intended for language. Thus, neurolinguistics helps us to go a little deeper into this aspect thanks to new technologies. For example, we are now able to get brain images that allow us to observe this part of our body, being able to observe which areas affect our ability to communicate.