LING 1P92 Introduction to the Psychology of Language Fall

2014
Seminar Discussion Questions
Week of Sept. 22: Meaning
7.

8.
1. A beanbag is a piece of furniture. TRUE or FALSE?
1. A beanbag is a household article. TRUE or FALSE?

2. A beanbag has the ability to be sat on. TRUE or FALSE?
2, A beanbag has a soft shape. TRUE or FALSE?

9. The questions that would be the fastest to verify would be the second set. The
reason for this one to be the quickest to verify is because they are the broadest
terms. The tests states that the idea is that people should take longer to answer the
broader questions (animals, games, furniture), it also includes the distance effect,
because of the distance between the nodes, it takes longer for a person to connect
the two words based on the hierarchy of the nodes in our brains. Therefore, the
expectancy is that it would take longer for someone to verify a broader term. The
typicality effect would be an issue on the subject because the words we associate
with board terms are not always the same, are not on the same level, for example,
FURNITTURE
(has ability to be moved)
(has use)
Decoration
(Has admirable features)
(has small use)

LAMP PAINTING
Chair
(Has feet on ground)
(Has ability to sit on)
BEANBAG CHAIR
we would think a couch is more related to furniture over a beanbag. Or, we would
consider a robin as a bird quicker than we would a penguin.