Postgraduate Course: Simulating Language (LASC11113)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting 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 study of the origins and evolution of language and communication has seen a resurgence of interest in recent years. Part of the reason for this has been the application of new techniques from computer modelling to test out different hypotheses about how language evolved.
This allows researchers to run experiments on populations of simulated individuals, essentially rerunning competing proposed scenarios for the evolution of language.
In this course, we will build and run experiments with very simple models that nevertheless cast light on a wide range of puzzles - from the origins of animal communication all the way to the emergence of patterns of regularity and irregularity in language structure. Each of these models will build on the previous ones and at each step we will relate the practical work we are doing with the existing literature on simulating language, as well as broader issues in the scientific understanding of the origins and ongoing evolution of language.
This course will be suitable for anyone interested in the dynamic processes underpinning language, including individual learning, cultural transmission, and biological evolution. It will involve a mix of practical lab work, lectures and discussions.
Experience of programming (using any language) would be an advantage, but is not a prerequisite.
Formative feedback;
- lab sessions with one-to-one advice on completing lab assignments.
- lecture giving feedback on first assessment and feedforward advice on approaching the second. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 52,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
142 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
100 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- An ability to critically assess research papers that use modelling techniques;
- an understanding of those aspects of evolutionary linguistics in which modelling has played a part;
- an understanding of multi-agent simulation, and basic evolutionary computation and machine learning techniques;
- an ability to run and analyse computer simulation experiments in order to test hypotheses about the cultural and biological evolution of linguistic behaviour;
- an ability to modify existing simulations and construct novel ones |
Assessment Information
Short answer questions within a take-home exam (30%) and practical work within a take-home exam (70%)
Assignment 1 deadline: Monday 24th February 2014 by 12 noon
Word/page limit: tbc
Return deadline: Tuesday 18th March 2014
Assignment 2 deadline: Monday 7th April 2014 by 12 noon
Word/page limit: tbc
Return deadline: Tuesday 29th April 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 | Prof Simon Kirby
Tel: (0131 6)50 3494
Email: s.kirby@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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