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 |
None |
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 evolution, language and thought, lexical semantics, spoken production, spoken perception, sentence processing, reading, bilingualism, neuroscience of language and aphasiology.
On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
This unit comprises lectures and tutorials.
One 1600 word essay (30%) and one 2 hour exam (70%).
Essential None
Recommended
Traxler, M. J. (2011). Introduction to Psycholinguistics: Understanding language science. Wiley Backwell. P37 TRA. Electronic copy available on UoB library website.
Further
Altmann, G. T. M. (1997). The ascent of Babel: An exploration of language, mind and understanding. Oxford: Oxford University Press. P37 ALT
Gaskell, M. G. (2007). The Oxford handbook of psycholinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. BS455 OXF
Harley, T.A. (2014). The psychology of language: From data to theory (4th edition). Hove, England: Psychology Press. P37 HAR
Pinker, S. (1994). The language instinct. New York: Harper Collins. P106 PIN
Traxler, M. J. & Gernsbacher, M. A. (2006). Handbook of psycholinguistics. London: Elsevier. P37 HAN
Additional suggestions for recommended and further reading will be made separately through Blackboard