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 |
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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 |
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Co-requisites |
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Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
None
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Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Central | Lecture | 3.11 Dugald Stewart Building (NOT Tuesday 23rd November) | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | Central | Lecture | 3.11 Dugald Stewart Building | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 | Central | Lecture | 3.11 Dugald Stewart Building | 1-11 | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | Central | Lecture | S1, 7 George Square (Tuesday 23rd November ONLY) | 10 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: Central. 3.11 Dugald Stewart Building |
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
2x Critical reviews (50%) and 2x data analysis project (50%) |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
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 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:13 am
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