Language and Cognition

1. Maria is applying for a job at an ad agency. At the interview, she’s asked to list some creative things she can do with a diamond necklace. One of the things she lists is Put it in the trash basket. Can this be considered a creative solution? Why or why not?

2. What criteria can be used to determine whether a particular system of communication is a language?

3. What revolutionary idea did Noam Chomsky propose regarding language?

4. A mansion and a tent are both houses, but people would probably agree that a mansion is a house more quickly than they would agree that a tent is a house. Why is this the case?

5. What are two strategies for making decisions about preferences?