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----- Original Message -----
From: John Dews-Alexander <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011 3:30 pm
Subject: Re: sources re conversational behavior
To: [log in to unmask]

> Point well taken, Craig. Perhaps more general references to the
> nurture/nature debate would be more appropriate. I'm not a
> biology teacher,
> but I imagine nurture/nature would be a key point to explore
> when looking at
> a phenomenon like language. Even if the task is to classify
> conversations,the framework for that might include related ideas
> like how those types of
> conversation are learned and/if some types are more "innate"
> than others
> (such as a parent-child verbal interaction).
>
> I'm a bit out of my league here. I think my mind is wandering in this
> direction because I'm reading *Patterns in the Mind* by Ray
> Jackendoff.
> John
>
> On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 2:31 PM, Craig Hancock
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
> > John,
> > I think Skinner and Chomsky may be an OK place to start,
> but it
> > wouldn't be a good way to frame the debate. I don't think any
> of the
> > people developing positions contrary to Chomsky would think of
> > themselves as behaviorist. No one defends Skinner. It's not a
> > conditioning process or thought of in that way. But I agree
> with your
> > last point. Language has a biological component, and there are
> > competing ways to model that.
> >
> > Craig
> >
> > It strikes me also that studying language behaviors is a great
> opportunity> > to examine how language is seen both as a learned
> behavior as well as an
> > > innate ability (and a myriad of views in-between). The
> debate between
> > > Skinner and Chomsky is a good place to start. For a biology
> teacher, this
> > > may be great material to examine the fine line between
> biology and
> > > cognition.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 9:56 AM, Craig Hancock
> <[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I have used Tannen in composition classes and students
> find her
> > >> "relevant" and accessible. If you google her, you can find short
> > >> articles on male/female uses of language and criticisms of our
> > >> "argument culture." I would also suggest Lakoff and
> Johnson, certainly
> > >> "Metaphors We Live By" as ways to talk about the
> relationship between
> > >> the way we use language and how we conceive the world and
> how that
> > >> affects our social interaction. In terms of how we see
> argument, this
> > >> overlaps with Tannen.
> > >> I don't think you can go wrong with Grice's maxims,
> probably available
> > >> from a number of sources.
> > >> They may find it interesting that many linguists see
> language as "a
> > >> complex adaptive system", using metaphors out of biology.
> Much of that
> > >> is happening at the scholarly level. Geoff Thompson has an
> > >> "Introduction to Functional Grammar" that is intended to be
> accessible,> >> as is David Lee's book on cognitive Linguistics.
> It seems to me that
> > >> prototype theory links cognition to language. I'm not sure
> what to
> > >> suggest for reading. Is it covered in contemporary
> psychology texts?
> > >> I'm not sure if any of that is what they are looking for.
> > >>
> > >> Craig>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> My first impression is that they are doing discourse
> analysis of a sort.
> > >> > Perhaps they would benefit from a referral to the
> literature on speech
> > >> > acts?
> > >> > Or perhaps a general reference to the work of discourse
> analysts like
> > >> > Deborah Tannen would be helpful?
> > >> >
> > >> > I'll consider this more. I think providing direct help to
> school> >> teachers
> > >> > is
> > >> > something this group should take as an important
> component of its
> > >> mission!
> > >> >
> > >> > John Alexander
> > >> >
> > >> > On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 8:44 AM, Dick Veit <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> >> I received the following request from a high school
> teacher. Can
> > >> anyone
> > >> >> supply information she and her class would find useful?
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Hello, Professor Veit.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> I am teaching a unit on behavior in an IB Biology
> course. My students
> > >> >> want
> > >> >> to analyze and categorize topics of human conversation.
> Such as:
> > >> >> discussion
> > >> >> of subjective or objective ideas, discussion of others,
> relating> >> stories
> > >> >> to
> > >> >> one's own experiences, etc.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> We are having difficulty finding literature sources. I
> am wondering
> > >> if
> > >> >> you
> > >> >> know of any literature sources on this topic.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Thanks for your time and consideration. Any help you
> could give would
> > >> be
> > >> >> greatly appreciated.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Stacey Skinner, Biology Teacher
> > >> >> St. Paul Central High School
> > >> >> [log in to unmask]
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Dick
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