Language explained in terms of Information Processing Theories
6. Information Processing Theories in many respects reflect the technological thinking of the times.
Before the industrial revolution, the mind was described in terms of body vapors. After the revolution it was envisioned to be constructed like a well oiled machine.
Today, we use computer concepts to explain the brain and language acquisition.
While there are enough similarities to make this useful, it is still far too simplistic a description.
Like a computer, the brain encodes stimuli from the environment, operates on the information, stores and retrieves the data.
In the brain, unlike computers which are serial processors, information processing occurs along parallel tracks.
Language develops empirically through experience. Initially, all neural tracks are potentially equal. But through use, or lack of it, some are strengthened and others are weakened or or totally lost.