I. Read and learn the following words. VIII. Prove that the language represents one of the highest achievements of human cognition

HAPPINESS

TEXT 19

X. Work in groups.

VIII. Prove that the language represents one of the highest achievements of human cognition.

VI. Fill the gaps using the following prepositions.

through, of, to, in, for, out of, of, from, to, of, about

1. We gather information … written word and express our needs …writing.

2. All human languages have the properties …expressive power, productivity and displacement.

3. Expressive power refers …a language’s ability to communicate almost any idea, any feeling and any thought.

4. Human languages are not limited … messages that concern our immediate survival.

5. Some linguists think that differences …languages make … different ways … perceiving and understanding the world.

6. Productivity grows … … the rule – governed nature of language.

7. Displacement or the ability to talk … something that is not present, is the aspect … language that makes civilization possible.

VII. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Most of us take speech in daily life for granted.

2. We don’t pause to consider that reading and writing, like speech, are not significant for human civilization.

3. Many researchers convinced that if we could analyze the working of language in all its richness we might understand the human mind.

4. All human languages have the properties of productivity and displacement.

5. The communication systems of other species serve only a survival function.

6. Animals use signals to discuss language itself and communicate their feelings and emotions.

7. With the limited set of words we can produce a limited number of sentences to speak in particular situations.

8. When we learn a language we usually learn a set of sentences to speak in particular situations.

9. Displacement allows us to describe only the future and the imaginary.

10. By transcending the immediate present, we can transmit knowledge from generation to generation.

IX. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the universal features of language?

2. What is the difference between expressive power and displacement?

3. Is it possible to understand the human mind?

4. What is the difference between human and non-human languages?

Just as we may question the viability of artificial intelligence, we may use the problem of communication to test whether computers will ever have “a mind of their own”. Use the three universal features of human language as criteria to test the assumptions about artificial intelligence. What must computers be able to do in order to meet all these criteria?

● happiness [hæpinəs] счастье ● extended [iks'tendid] расширенный ● digestion [di'dʒest∫n] пищеварение ● circumstances ['sə:kəmstəns] обстоятельство ● account for smth [ə'kaυnt] объяснять ● gender ['dʒendə] пол ● employment [im'plÉimənt] работа ● steady ['stedi] устойчивый, ровный, спокойный ● contentment [kən'tentmənt] удовлетворение ● appraisal [ə'preizl] оценка ● to encounter [in'kaυntə] сталкиваться с чем-либо ● aggravating ['ægrəveintiŋ] ухудшение ● relative ['relətiv] относительный ● comparison [kəm'pærisn] сравнение ● terrific [tə'rifik] ужасающий ● comedown ['kÙmdaun] упадок.

II. Find synonyms for the following words:

account for, contentment, relative, terrific, circumstances, encounter, appraisal, steady

situation, explain, persistent, satisfaction, evaluation, relevant, amazing, run across

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