Psychology 337: Fall, 2009 Course Information
Unique # 44090
Professor: Peter MacNeilage
3.230 Seay
Ph: W: 475-7009 H: 479-6720 e-mail: macneilage@psy.utexas.edu
Office Hours: TT 11-12
TA: Elizabeth Pommier
2.122 Seay e-mail: Elizabeth.Pommier@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: T 11-12:30 & TH 1:30 – 3:00
Course Requirements
Your grade will be based on the results of 2, 75 minute tests, one on October15, and the other on Friday
Dec. 11 from 9 to 10.15. Each of the two tests during the semester will consist of 20 multiple choice questions 5 short paragraphs (choice of 7), and 2 essays (choice of 3). No reasons for missing exams will be accepted if you did not contact me before exam time. Work: 475-7009; Home: 479 6720; e-mail: macneilage@psy.utexas.edu (No problems arising from non-refundable air fares will be considered as all exam times are now known to you.) Grades cannot be improved by extra assignments.
Grades .
Here is how grades will be determined. The number of points that you make on each of the two exams will be added together to give you a sum for the course. The highest possible number of points is 200—1 point per minute of testing. (Note that you will not receive a letter grade during the semester but simply a score, which is the number of points.) Your letter grade will be assigned according to a simple formula based on a. your sum, and b. the average of the scores of the top 2 students in the class. This average of the two greatest sums will be considered a perfect score of 100% and is the basis for all the other grades.
If your sum is; Then your grade is;
86-100% A
76-85% B
61-75% C
51-60% D
50% or below F
Notice that anything can happen. Its possible (but not likely) for everyone to get an A. In this course you are not graded on some absolute or arbitrary scale, but in relation to the two best members of your class. After the 2 tests, class attendance/participation will be factored in and your final grade will again be computed in relation to the top two scores in the class as above.
Attendance .
Class attendance will be compulsory. You can miss 2 classes during the semester without penalty. After that, marks will be deducted in the following way: 3 classes missed, 4 points deducted; 4 classes missed, 8 points deducted: 5 classes missed, 16 points deducted; 6 classes missed, 32 points deducted; 7 classes missed, 68 points deducted; 8 classes missed, course failed. After the first day, class attendance will be taken by the TA at the South door of the room,
Departmental Requirements
The Psychology Department will drop all students who do not meet the following prerequisites:
(a) PSY 301 with a C or better
(b) Upper-Division standing (60 hours completed)
(c) PSY 418 (or an equivalent listed in the course schedule) with a C or better
Accommodations
At the beginning of the semester, students with disabilities who need special accommodations should notify the instructor by presenting a letter prepared by the Services for Students with Special Disabilities (SSD) Office. To

ensure that the most appropriate accommodations can be provided, students should contact the SSD Office at 471-
6259 or 471-4641 TTY.
Adding Classes
The only way undergraduates can add a PSY class is through the ROSE registration system by Aug. 31st . If the class has an electronic waitlist started in the registration system students must add themselves to it for any chance to add the class. If a class is full, students can keep trying during their access times and speak to their advisors (in their major departments) to explore other options in case it does not open up. Feel free to forward email inquiries about adding a class to undergrad@psy.utexas.edu
to answer. Dean's offices typically will not allow adds past Sept.11th
, when official roll is taken.
Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty
Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary procedures, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
Psychology 337: Psychology of Language 44090
Dr. MacNeilage Fall ‘09
MWF 2-3 NOA 1.124
Required Readings :
1.
MacNeilage, P.F. The Origin of Speech. (Available at the Co-op in the middle of September)
2.
A set of power point slide copies and a set of readings (Available at Jenn’s Copy; NW corner of 22 nd and
Guadalupe)
Schedule: Lectures & Readings
1. Background .
Aug 28, Sept 1. Language: What is it?
Sept 3, 8, 10. Evolution. Weiner. Grant. Crick. Lewin Chs 4 & 7.
Sept 15, 17. Classicism versus Neodarwinism. MacNeilage: Causes of Form. MacNeilage: Notes on Objectivism.
MacNeilage: Chs 1. & 2.
2. Evolution of Language .
Sept 22, 24. Bickerton’s Scenario. Calvin & Bickerton: Lingua ex Machina. Chs 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11.
Sept 29. MacWhinney’s Scenario. MacWhinney: The Gradual Emergence of Language. Gopnik: Theory of Mind.
Rizzolatti et al., Mirrors in the Mind. (Some power points to come.)
Oct 1. Tomasello’s Scenario. Tomasello: Origins of Human Communication, Ch. 7, From Ape Gestures to Human
Language. (Power points to come.)
3. Evolution of Speech: MacNeilage’s Scenario
Oct 6, 8, 13. What is Speech? MacN: Ch 3.
Oct 15 MID TERM EXAM
Oct 20. How Speech got Started. MacN Ch 4.
Oct 22, 27. Acquisition and Evolution. MacN: Chs 5 and 6.
Oct 29. First Words. MacN: Ch 7.
4. Brain and Speech/Language .
Nov 3, 5. The Brain. Gazzaniga, Ivry & Mangun pp. 44-68.
Nov 10, 12. Brain Evolution for the Frame/Content Mode MacN: Chs 8 & 9.
Nov 17, 19. Evolution of Hemispheric Specializations including Speech. MacN: Ch 10. MacNeilage, Rogers &
Vallortigara: Origins of the Left and Right Brain. (Some power points to come.)
Nov 24. Broca’s Area and Language Embodiment. Wise: Evolution of Ventral Premotor Cortex and Primate Way of Reaching. Willems and Hagoort: Neural Evidence for the Interplay Between Language, Gesture, and
Action: A Review. (Power points to come).
Nov 26. THANKSGIVING
5. Speech: Some Conclusions about Speech .
Dec . Ultimate Causes of Speech: Genes and Culture. MacN: Ch 14.

Dec 3 Conclusions MacN. Ch 15.
Content of Readings Packet.
Background
Introduction
MacNeilage, P.F. On the Causes of Form in Nature.
MacNeilage, P.F. Notes on Objectivism, Formalism, Essentialism, Rationalism.
Evolution
Weiner, J. The Handy-Dandy Evolution Prover.
Grant, P.R. Natural Selection and Darwin’s Finches.
Crick, F. What Mad Pursuit: The Baffling Problem (excerpt).
Lewin, R. Human Evolution, Ch 4 Primate Heritage.
Lewin, R. Human Evolution, Ch 7 Major steps in human evolution.
Evolution of Language
Calvin, W.H. & Bickerton, D. Lingua ex Machina (Excerpts).
MacWhinney, B.M. The Gradual Emergence of Language.
Gopnik, A. Theory of Mind.
Rizzolatti, G., Fogassi, L. & Galese, V. Mirrors of the Mind.
Tomasello: Origins of Human Communication, Ch. 7, From Ape Gestures to Human Language.
Brain and Speech
Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, I., & Mangun, G. Cognitive Neuroscience (Excerpt, pp. 44-68.)
MacNeilage, P.F., Rogers, L.J. & Vallortigara, G. Origins of the Left and Right Brain.
Wise, S. Evolution of Ventral Premotor Cortex and Primate Way of Reaching.
Willems, R.M & Hagoort, P. Neural Evidence for the Interplay Between Language, Gesture, and Action: A Review.