Connectionist modeling theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Connectionist modeling theory - Essay Example Connectionist theory has also been used to explain language. Connectionist theory is basically the process of seeing a connection between the input (perception) and the output (language) (McMurray 2000). The mental processes as explained above are a large part of the processes. Connectionist theory tries to understand how the brain or the neural network makes connections between the input and the output. Basically, it is connection the perceived data with the ideas that come out as output. Connectionist theory comes up with formulas that try to explain the process in creation of words, starting from the understanding of the stimulus, Linguistics has tried to come up with theories to understand language development. But it has largely ignored mental processes. Language is also connected to mental processes. What one thinks, that becomes language. Connectionist theory tries to explain how this process happens. Connections are made between the stimuli and the output. This evolves to how the mind reacts to word as well as objects. It also goes to how the various networks within the brain cause the connections to change – yet another part of the theory. Connectionist theory is thus very interesting in helping linguists map the mental processes in creating ideas. My proposed paper will study the connectionist theory and how it benefits in the study of linguistics. Aside from looking at the basic principles of connectionist theory, the proposed study will look for the most common patterns about how ideas become words using the connectionist perspective. Smith and Samuelson (2003) studied the dissimilarity between the two emergentist theories, connectionism and dynamic systems theory. Both the theories differ in the manner they study development. The authors in the study assert the differences between connectionist and dynamic systems approaches in terms of the basic elements of the paradigms, what they