Available in 2024
Course code

LING3110

Units

10 units

Level

3000 level

Course handbook

Description

The course studies language processing (psycholinguistics) and brain function related to language processing (neurolinguistics); competing views of the language acquisition process (e.g. nativist vs. cognitivist); the relationship between language development and the development of other cognitive capacities; and psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic research methods.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Callaghan

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Discuss the differences between competing theories of language acquisition.

2. Describe the neurological bases of language processing with the description of specific regions of the brain involved in language comprehension and production.

3. Explain how speech perception in infants and young children are tested and what the research results suggest about language universals.

4. Construct and deliver a comprehensive academic presentation based on the literature review on a specific topic related to language and mind.

5. Conduct an advanced literature review on sentence processing and cognitive disorder and summarise the findings in a succinct manner.

6. Apply your knowledge of the research process to contribute to a research project


Content

  1. Main theories of first language acquisition: Universal Grammar and nativists' approach vs. connectionism and anti-nativists' approach.
  2. The neurological base of language: brain lateralisation (left hemispheric dominance); brain functions for language comprehension and production; bilingual brain; language recovery after hemispherectomy/aphasia.
  3. Language development; speech perception in infants; cognitive development and Theory of Mind in young children.
  4. Word recognition (lexical knowledge storage and retrieval) and sentence processing in adults.

Assumed knowledge

LING1111 or equivalent


Assessment items

Quiz: Quiz (x 2)

Essay: Essay

Presentation: Poster presentation

Participation: Research Participation


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan

Lecture-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline