Language Acquisition
Code
711131058
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Maria Sousa Lobo Gonçalves
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
At the end of the course, students shall:
a) identify and describe the main characteristics of different models of language acquisition (cognitivism, behaviourism and inatism);
b) describe the advantages and disadvantages of different methodologies for the study of child language;
c) describe properties of phonological development;
d) describe properties of morphosyntactic development;
e) describe properties of semantic and pragmatic development;
f) analyze child language data, characterizing children linguistic development.
Prerequisites
We recommend previous frequency of the following courses: phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
Subject matter
1. Coginitivist, behaviourist and inatist approaches to language acquisition.
2. General characterisitics of the process of language acquisition.
3. Methodologies for the study of child language: naturalistic and experimental methods.
4. Topics on phonological development.
5. Topics on morphological and syntactic development.
6- Topics on semantic and pragmatic development.
Bibliography
Costa, J. e A. L. Santos. 2003. A falar como os bebés. Lisboa: Editorial Caminho.
Fletcher, Paul & Brian MacWhinney (eds.) 1995. The Handbook of Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers.
Guasti, Maria Teresa. 2002. Language Acquisition. The Growth of Grammar. Cambridge, London: MIT Press.
Lust, B. 2006. Child Language. Acquisition and Growth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lust, B. & C. Foley (eds.) 2004. First Language Acquisition. The essential readings. Malden / Oxford / Victoria: Blackwell.
Teaching method
Theoretical classes and practical classes: child language data analysis
Evaluation method
Two written tests (60%) and two child language data exercises (40%).