Course unit details:
Psycholinguistics
| Unit code | LELA60082 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course unit will cover a host of topics at the interface between linguistics and psychology. More specifically, it will allow students to engage critically with speech perception, word recognition and reading, speech and language production, processing of syntax and semantics, first language acquisition, bilingualism and speech and language disorders. Students will be presented with theoretical models and experimental paradigms used in the field while being given the opportunity to explore the relationship between data and theory.
Aims
Students will
- obtain an overview of the relationship between linguistics and cognitive psychology
- obtain an overview of the main theoretical issues in the field
- understand the relationship between theory and data
- evaluate experimental data
Teaching and learning methods
- 1.5hr weekly seminar
- 1hr weekly lecture
- Assignment guidance in written form and during consultation hours
Knowledge and understanding
Students will
- explore the cognitive underpinnings of language
- appreciate the impact of linguistic impairments on communication
- understand psycholinguistic models based on older and current data
Intellectual skills
Students will
- develop analytical skills through the evaluation of experimental data
- develop research skills
- examine the links between theoretical models and experimental data
- show critical awareness of the literature in the field
Practical skills
Students will
- learn to understand basic statistical results reported in the literature
- understand various methodological paradigms and their relationship to different research aims
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Students will
- gain an understanding of the importance of data in backing up arguments
- appreciate the value of interdisciplinarity in answering critical questions related to language
Employability skills
- Other
- ¿ The course will provide students with analytical skills that are essential in pursuing a career involving analysis of data but also other professional pathways that hinge on critical thinking and research skills. The course will be also beneficial to students interested in pursuing a career in speech and language therapy.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 75% |
| Oral assessment/presentation | 25% |
Feedback methods
- Feedback on seminar contributions
- Individual meetings in consultation hours to discuss choice of topic
- Feedback on presentation / leading seminar discussion, in class and individually in consultation hour
- Written feedback on essay (additional feedback in consultation hour if desired)
Recommended reading
- De Groot, A. M., & Hagoort, P. (Eds.). (2017). Research methods in psycholinguistics and the neurobiology of language: A practical guide (Vol. 9). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
- Harley, T. A. (2010). The psychology of language: From data to theory. New York: Psychology Press.
- Hickok, G., & Poeppel, D. (2007). The cortical organization of speech processing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8, 393-402.
- Sedivy, J. (2014). Language in mind: An introduction to psycholinguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 27.5 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 122.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Wendell Kimper | Unit coordinator |