ELECTIVE

Fall term 2018/2019

Larisa Avram

LANGUAGE & MIND

Language & Mind examines the nature of human language from the perspective
of biolinguistics. The focus will be on the interplay of the three factors of
language design: genetic endowment (Universal Grammar), linguistic input
(linguistic experience) and general principles which are language independent. It
explores brain organization for language and the extent to which language
relates to general cognitive development. The course also considers how
language is acquired in both typical and unusual circumstances and how
language is forgotten.

The list of topics includes:

 language as a faculty of the human mind

 three factors in language design
 the innateness hypothesis
 brain organization for language
 language and the critical period hypothesis
 language acquisition and cognitive development
 language development in a bilingual context
 second and third language learning
 language attrition

Assessment: grades will be based on class participation (10%) and 3 quizzes

which will each weigh 30% of the final grade. The quizzes will be cumulative but
the questions will focus on recent material.

Maximum number of students: 40.