;

4.34 Derived Stimulus Relations and Generativity

Derived stimulus relations also provide a model for understanding the generativity of language. Perhaps the reason we can generate and understand an infinite number of meaningful sentences is that we can derive an infinite number of relations between words, events, and meanings.

A diagram depicting various types of cars with expanded relational networks.
SymbolismGenerativity
Words “refer” to other things

What a word “refers” to is often its meaning
We can create and understand an infinite number of meaningful sentences
Post a comment
This section is for the civil and public discussion of the content of this page. We reserve the right to moderate and remove comments that are irrelevant, disrespectful, hateful, harassing, threatening, or spamlike. If you are experiencing a technical issue, please contact our helpdesk for assistance.

Leave a Comment