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 |
Please use Learn |
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.
Formative feedback available;
- Assessment 1 (data analysis): During the lab session, students will be a) given short exercises to practice commands that can be used for the data analysis, and b) walked through a sample analysis.
- Assessment 2 (critical review): a) Students will be given a sample review that follows the format requirements and content expectations along with the assignment instructions. b) Useful perspectives on critical evaluation of the relevant articles will be addressed in paper discussions during tutorials. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| 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
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
183 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| 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
Critical reviews (50%) and data analysis project (50%)
Assignment 1: Data Analysis
Deadline: Thursday 14th November 2013, 12 noon
Word limit: 2500
Return deadline: Friday 29th November 2013
Assignment 2: Critical Review
Deadline: Thursday 12th December 2013, 12 noon
Word limit: 3000
Return deadline: Friday 17th January 2014 |
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 | Dr Mitsuhiko Ota
Tel: (0131 6)50 3949
Email: mits@ling.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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