Postgraduate Course: Origins and Evolution of Language (LASC11112)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A survey of current scientific thinking on the origins and evolution of language and the human language faculty. |
| Course description |
We will review current theories which attempt to explain how and why human language evolved, covering both the biological evolution of the human capacity for language, and cultural evolution of languages themselves. Modern evolutionary linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field, and we will touch on the basics of evolutionary biology, animal communication and animal cognition, fieldwork on emerging sign languages, and computational models and experimental studies of language evolution pioneered here in Edinburgh, among other topics. No prior knowledge of these areas is assumed.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2016/17, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 27,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
167 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework (100%)
- Essay 1 (40%) 1500 words
- Essay 2 (60%) 1500 words
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| Feedback |
Tutorials involve group discussions/debates of papers tackling core issues discussed in class and which are relevant to the assignments ¿ the focus again is on critical evaluation of theory and evidence, and the discussion/debate format is intended to maximize opportunities for feedback from peers and tutors. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- speak and write informedly and responsibly about the origins of language
- critically evaluate theories of the origins and evolution of language, based on empirical evidence
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Reading List
| Fitch, W.T. (2010) The Evolution of Language. Cambridge University Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critically evaluating arguments on the basis of evidence. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Attend all lectures as scheduled and one weekly tutorial. |
| Keywords | language evolution,evolution,comparative psychology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kenneth Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 3956
Email: kenny@ling.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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