
- UCAS course code
- QR32
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Language, Mind and Brain
Unit code | LELA10201 |
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Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Offered by | Linguistics & English Language |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
Aims
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the unit students will be able to:
- Distinguish the differences and similarities between language and other communication systems
- Evaluate the role of the brain in developing and employing language, including key arguments surrounding issues such as modularity of mind
- Critically assess scholarly and scientific claims from the literature, and the arguments supporting them
- Engage in interdisciplinary group discussions to compare competing approaches and hypotheses, using evidence-based reasoning
- Research and prepare coherent written communications
- Understand the fundamental role of the brain in developing and using language.
- Identify the differences and similarities between language and other communication systems
- Recognise and understand the key arguments surrounding issues such as modularity of mind.
Intellectual skills
- Support an argument using evidence and reasoning.
- Critically assess scholarly and scientific claims and the arguments supporting them.
- Compare competing hypotheses and bring evidence to bear in selecting between them.
Practical skills
- Read and interpret scientific articles.
- Write brief essays providing evidence and reasoning in favour of a scientific claim.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Writing skills
- Independent study skills
- Time management skills
- Critical thinking skills
Assessment methods
Written Exercise | N/A (formative) |
Written Exercise | 30% |
Participation | 10% |
Quizzes | 10% |
Written Exercise | 50% |
Feedback methods
Feedback Method | Formative or Summative |
Written feedback on written exercises | Formative and summative |
Score for quizzes on completion in Blackboard | Summative |
Additional feedback on written exercises in consultation hours or by appointment | Formative and summative |
Recommended reading
Osborne, Lawrence (1999). A Linguistic Big Bang. New York Times Magazine, pp. 83-89.
Petitto, L. A. (1999). The acquisition of natural signed languages. In C. Chamberlain, J. Morford, & R.Mayberry (Eds.), Language acquisition by eye, pp. 41-50.
Terrace, H. S. (1979). How Nim Chimpsky changed my mind. Psychology today, November 1979. p. 65-76.
Martin, Laura. (1986). "Eskimo Words for Snow": A Case Study in the Genesis and Decay of an Anthropological Example. American Anthrolpologist, New Series, 88(2), pp. 418-423.
Tisljár-Szabó, Eszter & Rossu, Renáta & Varga, Veronika & Pléh, Csaba. (2014). The Effect of Alcohol onSpeech Production. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. 43(6), 737-748.
Sutton-Spence, Rachel and Napoli, Donna Jo (2012). Deaf jokes and sign language humor. Humor 25(3), p.311-337.
Elsabbagh, Mayada and Karmiloff-Smith, Annette (2006). Modularity of Mind and Language. In Brown, K.(ed.) The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics, SecondEdition. p.218-224.
Palacek, Martin. (2017). Modularity of Mind: Is It Time to Abandon This Ship? Philosophy of the SocialSciences 47(2), p.132-144.
Bellugi, Ursula (1992). Language, Spatial Cognition, and Brain Organization. In Neuropsychology: The Neuronal Basis of Cognitive Function, Vol. 2. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., p. 207-222.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 22 |
Tutorials | 11 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 167 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Wendell Kimper | Unit coordinator |