Language and Thought

Nick Lund is Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and is author of Animal Cognition and Attention and Pattern Recognition in the Routledge Modular Psychology series.

• Part 1. Introduction. Language and Thought. The Nature of Language. Methods of Studying Language. Problem Solving and Decision Making. The Study of Problem Solving and Decision Making. Summary. Part 2. The Relationship Between Language and Thought. Introduction. The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis. Thought Determines Language. The Interdependence of Language and Thought. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 3. Social and Cultural Aspects of Language. Introduction. Social Class. Ethnic Background. Gender. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 4. Language Acquisition.Introduction. The Stages of Language Acquisition. Pre-linguistic. One-word Stage. Development of Grammar. Meaning and Pragmatics. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 5 Theories of language acquisition. Introduction. Environmental Theories of Language Acquisition. Nativist Theories of Language Acquisition. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 6. Problem-solving. Introduction. Types of Problems. Gestalt Approach. Information Processing Approach. Information Processing and 'Insight'. Use of Analogy in Problem Solving. Problem Solving in Everyday Life. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 7. Decision Making. Introduction. The Heuristics and Biases Approach to Judgements. Other Factors that Influence Judgements. Evaluation of the Heuristics and Biases Approach. Theories of Decision Making. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 8. Study Aids. Glossary. Solutions to Problems. Bibliography. Index.

"This clearly written text will help to explain and clarify a complex area of cognitive research that A Level students often find difficult. Its depth of understanding and a wide set of research examples means that the book will also appeal to first year undergraduates." - Jane Wilson, City College Norwich