DRAFT. This version of the catalogue is a draft version and subject to change.
Unless you have been specifically directed here, you probably want to use the main catalogue.
Last modified: 2 Days, 2 Minutes ago
Language acquisition is a human feat like no other: accomplished by children in their early years with no apparent effort, but sometimes incredibly difficult for adults. This course looks at how people come to know languages, using existing research in the field and real-life examples to examine stages of linguistic development and theoretical approaches to this hotly debated complex process.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
This course provides an overview of the complex process of language acquisition, or how humans come to ‘know’ a language. We will discuss the evolution of theoretical approaches to this field that sprang up in the 20th century, looking at the debate among psychologists and linguists over how much language acquisition is like, or indeed connected to, other types of learning. Taking into account the wide range of existing research on this topic, we will consider the cognitive factors that potentially influence language acquisition, such as predisposition for language learning and brain changes with age, as well as environmental ones, such as amount and type of exposure to a language. Using real-life examples to illustrate the ways in which knowledge of a language develops as it is acquired, going from infants’ initial sounds to full-fledged grammatical sentences, we will delve into the thorny question of what linguistic knowledge, and indeed language itself, really is.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | 39 | ||
| Feedback |
Reflective Report (Four 500-word Journal Entries) Written feedback will be provided on Blackboard. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Compare and evaluate a range of theories of language acquisition using authentic language data and existing research |
| Factual | Understand | Identify similarities and differences between language acquisition and other types of learning |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 39 | Feedback Weeks | 42 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided on Turnitin. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse the way in which knowledge and use of language develops |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Compare and evaluate a range of theories of language acquisition using authentic language data and existing research |
| Procedural | Apply | Investigate the influence of internal and external factors on individuals’ acquisition of language. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | 42 | ||
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided on Blackboard. The 22 points for the SAM will be broken down as follows:
|
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse the way in which knowledge and use of language develops |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Compare and evaluate a range of theories of language acquisition using authentic language data and existing research |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via Turnitin |
Word Count | 4000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse the way in which knowledge and use of language develops |
| Factual | Understand | Identify similarities and differences between language acquisition and other types of learning |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Compare and evaluate a range of theories of language acquisition using authentic language data and existing research |
| Procedural | Apply | Investigate the influence of internal and external factors on individuals’ acquisition of language. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
