Psycholinguistics Seminar - 1st semester
Code
73213109
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Ana Maria Lavadinho Madeira, Maria Sousa Lobo Gonçalves, Susana Mesquita de Deus Correia
Weekly hours
2
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) to master basic concepts of current debates in psycholinguistics in the generative framework;
b) to develop a critical reflection on the principles of biolinguistics;
c) to develop critical knowledge of relevant research on L1 and L2 acquisition, processing and parametric variation, taking into account current debates on the interaction between the components involved in the use and processing of human language.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Subject matter
1. The generative paradigm
2. From generativism to biolinguistics
3. The third factor
4. Biolinguistics - the role of syntactic knowledge
5. Language variation in the biolinguistic paradigm
6. Language development - what is language, the role of processing and routines
7. Language development and developmental problems
8. Linguistic knowledge in L2 acquisition
9. Syntactic knowledge - acquisition and variation.
Bibliography
Di Sciullo, A. M., & Boeckx, C. (2011). The biolinguistic enterprise: New perspectives on the evolution and nature of the human language faculty. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Phillips, C. (2013). On the nature of island constraints. I: Language processing and reductionist accounts. In J. Sprouse & N. Hornstein (eds.), Experimental syntax and island effects, pp. 64-108. Cambridge University Press.
Phillips, C. (2013). On the nature of island constraints. II: Language learning and innateness. In J. Sprouse & N. Hornstein (eds.), Experimental syntax and island effects, pp. 132-157. Cambridge University Press
Sprouse, J. & Lau, E.F. (2013). Syntax and the Brain. The Cambridge Handbook of Generative Syntax. Cambridge University Press, UK.
Boeckx, C., & Grohmann, K., eds. (2013). The Cambridge handbook of biolinguistics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
(other titles distributed during the course)
Teaching method
Expository classes. Seminar where students present and discuss papers. Discussion of research projects.
Evaluation method
Assessment: Oral and written presentation of research project (70%); Critical review of a paper (30%).