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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Language Sciences

Postgraduate Course: First Language Acquisition (LASC11013)

Course Outline
School School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences College College of Humanities and Social Science
Course type Standard Availability Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits 20
Home subject area Language Sciences Other subject area None
Course website None Taught in Gaelic? No
Course description The aim of this course is to introduce students to the principal findings, concepts and models in the field of first language acquisition. The central question addressed is: How is it that all healthy children acquire language in a relatively short space of time and seemingly without extensive external assistance?

Concentrating primarily on phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax, the course surveys and examines theories that have been proposed to explain the observed developmental phenomena in these domains.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? No
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture3.11 Dugald Stewart Building (NOT Tuesday 23rd November)1-11 14:00 - 14:50
CentralLecture3.11 Dugald Stewart Building1-11 14:00 - 14:50
CentralLecture3.11 Dugald Stewart Building1-11 14:00 - 14:50
CentralLectureS1, 7 George Square (Tuesday 23rd November ONLY)10 13:10 - 14:50
First Class Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: Central. 3.11 Dugald Stewart Building
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this course the student will have gained understanding of the basic issues in first language acquisition including:

- What relative roles linguistic input and biological factors play in language acquisition?
- What models have been proposed to explain the acquisition of speech abilities, phonology, inflectional morphology and syntax?
- How children initiate the acquisition of syntax and semantics without a priori knowledge of the target language?
- How does bilingual first language acquisition proceed?

Students will also have gained experience in analysing learner data using the concepts and models taught in the course.
Assessment Information
1x Critical reviews (50%) and 1x data analysis project (50%)
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Prof Antonella Sorace
Tel: (0131 6)50 3493
Email: A.Sorace@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 31 January 2011 7:54 am