Unit name | Psychology of Language |
---|---|
Unit code | PSYC31051 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
Unit director | Professor. Damian |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Level 5 Psychology |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Psychological Science |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This course is a comprehensive overview of the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms involved in language acquisition, comprehension and production. A major aim of this unit is to sensitise students to the fact that, although seemingly effortless, language activities require a great deal of complex and fast mental computation. In keeping with recent advances in behavioural neuroscience, the neuro-anatomical substrates of language functions will also be examined. The unit will cover the following topics: Language and thought, speech recognition, speech production., bilingualism, neuroscience of language and aphasiology, evolutionary perspectives.
At the end of the course, students will be able to explain how language processing differs from other auditory and visual abilities and discuss current contentions about the status of language in evolution. They will also be able to answer the question, “What do we know when we know language?” Moreover, students will master basic notions in speech acoustics and they will be able to identify the areas controlling language on a brain map.
This unit comprises 18 x 60 minute lectures and tutorials.
Coursework: 1x 2000 word essay
Examination: 1 x 2.5 hour exam, May/June 2012
Final Grade: Based on 30% coursework and 70% exam
Harley, T.A. (2008). The psychology of language: From data to theory (3rd edition). Hove, England: Psychology Press. P37 HAR
RECOMMENDED TEXT:
textbook with readings. Hove, England: Psychology Press. QP360 ELL
University Press. BS455 OXF
London: Elsevier. P37 HAN