DEREE COLLEGE SYLLABUS FOR:
PS 4413 PSYCHOLOGY OF LANGUAGE - LEVEL 6
(Updated Fall 2015)
PREREQUISITES:
CATALOG
DESCRIPTION:
RATIONALE:
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
3/0/3
UK CREDITS: 15
PS 1000 Psychology as a Natural Science
PS 1001 Psychology as a Social Science
PS 2147 Analysis of Behavioral Data – Level 4
PS 3318 Research Methods in Psychology – Level 5
This course will provide an introduction to psychology of Language. It will cover a
broad range of topics from psycholinguistics, including the origin of language, the
different components of language (morphology, phonology, syntax and semantics).
Processes involved in-sentence comprehension and memory, language production
and the biological foundations of language will also be covered.
The course focuses on fundamental concepts associated with language structure,
comprehension and production that are important for the psychology majors. It is
essential for students planning to be specialized in speech therapy.
As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate systematic knowledge of the scope and the historical context
Psycho-linguistics.
2. Critically analyse the various models of speech perception and production.
3. Demonstrate critical understanding of the empirical findings obtained from
chimpanzee language learning and discuss their implications for human
language.
4. Critically evaluate the processes involved in Sentence and Discourse
Comprehension. Demonstrate critical understanding of the major perspectives
and rules of conversations.
5. Critically discuss the biological foundations of language.
6. Make a critical review in order to explore a topic of interest in depth. Integrate
scientific articles and develop specific arguments to support different views.
METHOD OF
TEACHING AND
LEARNING: In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college, the following tools are
used:
Ø Classes consist of lectures and critical discussions of published research.
Ø Office hours
Ø Use of Blackboard site.
ASSESSMENT:
In class diagnostic tests
(formative)
0%
The tests will be comprised of 3 short questions, 100
word each, out of 4.
In-class Oral Presentation
(summative)
40%
Submission of a printed copy of the PowerPoint
presentation
In-class final examination (2 hours,
comprehensive)
(summative)
60%
Essay questions (choice: 3 out of 5)
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The formative tests aim to prepare the students for their final examination.
The review paper tests Learning Outcome: 6
The final examination tests Learning Outcomes: 1, 2,3,4,5.
READING
LIST:
1. Required material:
Carroll, D. W. Psychology of Language. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, latest
edition.
Harley. (2007). The psychology of Language. From data to theory. (3rd edition).
N.York: Psychology Press.
2. Further Reading: readings to supplement the basic material covered in the
textbook.
Altmann, G.(2008). The Ascent of Babel. Oxford: University Press.
Steinberg,D. (1993). An Introduction to Psycholinguistics.N.York: Longman.
Yule, G.(2001). The study of Language. Cambridge: University Press.
Forrester, M. (1997). The Psychology of Language. A critical Introduction.
London: Sage.
Pinker, S. (1995). The language Instinct. Penguin Books.
Obler, J & Gjerlow,K. (1999). Language and the Brain. Cambridge: University
Press.
Chomsky,n. (1959). Review of “Verbal Behavior” by B.F.Skinner. Language, 35,
26-58.
Chomsky, N. (1981). Language and Mind. N.York: Harcourt Brace.
Pinker,S. (1990). Natural language and natural selection. Behavioral and Brain
Sciences, 13, 707-784.
Treiman, R. (2004). Spelling and Dialect: Comparisons between speakers of
African American vernacular English and white speakers. Psychonomic Bulletin,
11, 338-342.
Recent journal articles on current topics will be supplied by the instructor.
RECOMMENDED
MATERIAL:
Journal of Memory and Language
Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior
Language and Speech
Brain and Language
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
WWW
RESOURCES:
American Psychological Association
www.apa.org
British Psychological Society
www.bps.org
Wadsworth Higher Education Learning
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www.wadsworth.com
www. dundee.ac.uk/psychology/language
INDICATIVE
CONTENT:
1. Introduction
2. Historical Overview
3. Linguistic Principles
4. Biological Foundation of Language
5. Perception and Production of Language
6. Sentence Comprehension and Memory
7. Discourse Comprehension
8. Parsing Processes
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