How Language Works: The Brain's Guide to Understanding and Speaking Any Language

Forms of Aphasia 

Aphasia is the inability to comprehend or formulate language properly because of damage to different parts of the brain responsible for different language functions. The specific type of aphasia therefore affects specific regions of the brain concerned with a particular language function(s). The following two forms of aphasia are common: 

Broca’s Aphasia 

Broca’s Aphasia affects the Broca’s region of the brain. Broca’s area is responsible for language production or formulation. Broca’s aphasia is characterized by too much struggle while attempting to say words or while stringing sentences together. People suffering from Broca’s Aphasia have difficulties finding the right words to use in speech or conversation. 

Wernicke’s Aphasia 

Wernicke’s Aphasia affects the Wernicke’s region of the brain which is responsible for language comprehension. Symptoms include lack of coherency between words produced. Words and sentences lose meaning as a person speaks. Wernicke’s aphasia also interferes with reading and writing. 

From the above description of the two forms of aphasia, it is clear that Broca’s aphasia affects the Broca’s area of the brain and interferes with language production or formulation while Wernicke’s aphasia affects the Wernicke’s region and interferes with language comprehension, understanding and application. Both forms of aphasia have adverse effects on the mental lexicon. 

Chomsky’s Theory on Evolution of Language 

According to Chomsky (2002), humans can use language to produce endless sentences. This is because human brain is able to represent abstract ideas using concrete objects (Beilin & Pufall, 2003). Since language originates from the brain, then it is possible that language can be used to represent anything, including concepts which are not physical in nature (Beilin & Pufall, 2003). This shows how limitless the use of language is. Humans can therefore produce infinite sentences without any limitation. Several words can be used to represent the same concept. In regard to this fact, I agree with Chomsky’s theory on evolution of language which posits that language is generative. 

References  

Beilin, H., & Pufall, P. B. (Eds.). (2013). Piaget's theory: Prospects and possibilities . Psychology Press. 

Chomsky, N. (2002). On nature and language . Cambridge University Press.