This course is designed as a primer for students new to the field of linguistics and psychology. The development of human language as a child grows and the interplay with the mind during language production is contemplated. The course also considers how language changes during the aging process, and the reacquisition of language after a major trauma or operation. Additionally, we will explore cross-cultural language production and how it can be studied with modern scanning techniques in the human brain.
The course will address some fundamental questions regarding human language:
How language is represented in our minds
How language is acquired by children
How language is processed by adults
The relationship between language and thought
Exploring how language is represented and processed using brain imaging methods
Computational modeling of human language acquisition and processing
Lecture Schedule
Eight 1.5-hour sessions over two weeks in January
Course Prerequisites and Requirements
This course is intended for undergraduates. No background in psychology or linguistics is required.
Requirements
Attendance
Final exam
Study Materials
The study materials will help focus students on the pertinent topics in the field of language and mind. It is suggested that students answer each study question to help themselves prepare for the final exam.