Connotative Representation and Language Construction - Essay Example

Human brain is like a ware house which contains lots of information and knowledge that is used daily by human beings. The major role of retrieving information is done through language. Language has a big role to play in comprehension and this along with semantic constraints helps to produce the required language. Language also helps to ensure that the human brain is able to produce the required result by retrieving it from the memory. A look at the relationship between memory and language it has been seen that memory acts as a store house where all information is stored and language helps to retrieve those information by acquiring it from the memory (Semantic Memory, 2011). The paper thereby looks to examine semantic memory and tries to develop a relationship that exists between language and semantic memory. Semantic memory is defined as a person’s knowledge about the world without using his own personal experience or past events to judge a situation (Boles, 1988). This is a part of the long term memory and individuals identify things based on the relation with the language. Semantic memory stores information like its dark during the night, the sky is blue and similar other. This memory has a vital role to play and stores information which human beings use by ensuring that language helps to retrieve the information in a logical and organized way (Semantic, 2011). This memory in contrast to episodic memory doesn’t rely on experience or time. Semantic memory is different from other type of memory and uses the “tip of tongue” phenomenon to identify a thing. In semantic memory the language searches through the memory by looking for similar sounding words. For example, when a person tries to recall a name of a particular person it searches similar name and based on it the language tries to identify the correct one (Semantic, 2011). It has also been seen that semantic memory and other memories contribute towards episodic memory as it tries to ensure that the long term memory functions effectively and helps an individual in the long run. An important aspect to note here is that language plays a pivotal role as both semantic memory and episodic memory uses some words which are used more frequently than others. Language here acts as a helping stone and ensures that the person is able to retrieve the information easily (Semantic Information, 2011). This is seen in a study which states that people suffering with Alzheimer disease faces a loss of semantic memory. This makes it difficult for them to retrieve the information as the long term memory for those individuals is not functioning effectively. This result in loss of semantic memory and even language makes it difficult to retrieve the information from the brain cells (Kazui, Hashimoto, Hirono & Mori, 2003). This makes language a very important constituent of the memory and helps an individual to perform a number of functions which would otherwise have been not possible. Language helps to serve a number of purposes and the functions of language is shown in the chart below (Hebert, 2007) Target factor and TARGET FACTOR SOURCE FACTOR FUNCTION function no.       1 Context Message Referential 2 Addresser Message Emotive 3 Addressee Message Conative 4 Contact Message Phatic 5 Code Message Metalingual 6 Message Message Poetic The above chart shows that language helps to serve different purposes and helps an individual in different situation. It is seen that language helps an individual to perform referential function where the individual draws meaning based on references like the earth is round. The emotive functions help to present the emotional aspect present in individuals. The conative functions helps to address the other person by asking question like you are requested to come here. The phatic function helps an individual when a person meets other by greeting like a hello. The metalingual function helps to pass on code which can be read by the person who knows it and is done to keep secrets. Lastly the poetic function helps to pass on the message (Hebert, 2007). Language thus helps to serve a variety of purpose and helps to retrieve valuable information from the memory. Language thereby holds prime importance and the stages of language production helps to understand the manner in which language is passed on. The language production starts on with the process where the person intending to pass on the message to the receiver retrieves the information. The sender using the semantic memory encodes the message in linguistic code so that it can be passed on to the receiver. The process continues as the message to be passed in the linguistic form is given the form of a speech. This is the most important stage of language production and being able to use the correct speech helps to pass on the message correctly and accurately to the user. The speech is then passed on from the sender’s mouth to the receiver’s ear. The receiver receives the message as it is communicated and is a process where language cannot be stored. The receiver of the message then tries to understand the passed message by decoding it. The receiver uses his semantic memory in decoding the message and gives it a lingustic form. The receiver then uses the linguistic form to understand the message fully and acts accordingly. The complete message is passed and is complete when the receiver acts and performs in a manner the sender wanted. If the listener is able to perform similarly then it helps to improve understanding and ensures that the process is complete (Language Production, 2011). Language production thus holds an important aspect and ensures that the complete message is passed on from the sender to the receiver. This brings forth the relationship that exists between language and semantic memory. It is seen that semantic memory has a direct relation with language. Using the language effectively ensures that a correct reference is made and the correct information is retrieved from the brain cells. A study in this direction supports the fact that a strong relation exist between semantic memory and language (Horton, 2007). It states that a person who has sound language is able to search valuable information through the semantic memory and passing and decoding of information becomes easy for the individual. This was seen from picture naming where a person with sound language was able to identify it easily through the semantic memory compared to person who didn’t have a strong language. Thus it is seen that language has a somewhat direct relation to semantic memory and developing language helps to retrieve the correct information. The paper thus presents the manner in which semantic memory helps an individual. It draws important findings and supports the fact that language development holds an important aspect of language. Individuals need to develop the language in such a way that it helps semantic memory and identifying and drawing valuable information from the long term memory becomes easy. The paper also shows the relationship that exists between language and semantic memory and the importance development of language has on semantic memory. This is an aspect which humans need to pay attention to and develop their semantic memory in such a way that it helps them in the long run. References Bolles, E. Remembering & Forgetting: Inquiries into the nature of memory. New York: Walker & Co. 1998 Hebert, L. The functions of Language. 2007. Retrieved on July 16, 2011 from http://www.signosemio.com/jakobson/functions-of-language.asp Horton, W. The influence of partner specific memory associations on language production: Evidence from picture naming. 22 (7), 1114-1139, Norhtwestern University, 2007 Kazui, H., Hashimoto, M., Hirono, N. & Mori, E. Nature of personal semantic memory: evidence from Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropsychologic, 41 (8), 981-988, 2003 Language Production. Language Production: Psy 346. 2011. Retrieved on July 16, 2011 from http://people.tamu.edu/~jvaid/LangNotes/langnotes7a.pdf Semantic. Semantic Memory. 2011. Retrieved on July 16, 2011 from http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/568/Semantic-Memory.html Semantic Information. Representation and Use of Semantic Information. 2011. Retrieved on July 16, 2011 from http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~kfederme/semantic.html Semantic Memory. Semantic Memory & Language Production. 2011. 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