Final answer:
Verbal behavior can be broken down into cause-effect units as these units represent the purpose or function behind the communication. This understanding helps in language processing and identifying issues such as V or N impairment in patients. Knowing the functional terminology also aids in grasping the cause and effect in sentences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Verbal behavior can indeed be broken down into cause-effect (functional) units, which can be considered true. This is because verbal behavior often has a purpose or function that causes it to occur, and understanding these cause-effect relationships can help in explaining why communication happens in certain ways and the outcomes it has. For example, in economics, functions often describe cause and effect. This can also be observed in language tests where patients may display V impairment or N impairment, indicating difficulties with verbs or nouns respectively, which are crucial functional units in verbal expression.
Additionally, the classification and division of language elements into smaller functional units is critical in understanding the use of language. For instance, the classification of words as either action-describing verbs or object-representing nouns is essential for understanding their usage and the potential impact on communication abilities when there is damage to certain cortical areas.
Understanding the functional terminology in sentences helps to clarify the cause (the reason behind an action) and effect (the result of the action) in verbal behavior.