LING6311
10 units
6000 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
Online
- 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
- Main theories of first language acquisition: Chomsky's Universal Grammar and nativists' approach vs. connectionism and anti-nativists' approach.
- The neurological base of language: brain lateralisation (left hemispheric dominance); brain functions for language comprehension and production; bilingual brain; language recovery after hemispheretomy/aphasia.
- Language development; speech perception in infants; cognitive development and Theory of Mind in young children.
- Word recognition (lexical knowledge storage and retrieval) and sentence processing in adults.
Assessment items
Quiz: Quiz
Essay: Essay (x 2)
Exhibition / Poster: 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)
Seminar-1
- Face to Face On Campus 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
Semester 1 - 2024 - Online
Lecture-1
- Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
Seminar-1
- Online 1 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
Course outline
- LING6311 - Semester 1, 2024 (All) (PDF, 259.2 KB)
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.