OVERVIEW

Language is a higher human cognitive function that distinguishes us from all other living beings, so studying its mechanisms of learning and use contributes to a deeper understanding of the human mind and nature. This course aims to provide an advanced introduction to the science of language, understood as an empirical scientific discipline that uses experimental methods to study the psychological mechanisms driving language learning, comprehension and production. But to construct theories that have a good chance of being correct, psycholinguists must pay attention to the work of language scientists who work from a variety of angles and use a variety of methods. Ample space will therefore be given not only to the major contemporary theories but also to the methods by which they have been formulated and empirically tested, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of this line of research for everyday life and for society.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and applied fundamentals of the psychology of language. It will cover these topics: methods in the study of language, with focus on quantitative, experimental, and observational methods; different bases of language: phylogenetic, ontogenetic, biological, cognitive and social; language acquisition. Students will also engage in the creation of a product/instrument to study language empirically. This project will be conducted, discussed, and presented in class in small groups. At the end of this course, students will possess theoretical and empirical knowledge to understand the processes underlying human language; they will be able to discuss differences between human and no-human forms of communication; they will be able to assess how learning, speaking and understanding language interact; they will have engaged with advanced tools of psycholinguistic analysis; they will know how to work in group to finalise an artefact/product on language; they will be able to present and discuss their product in public. Such skills lay the foundation for appropriate evidence-based translational practices.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this teaching, the student will be able to:

- Identify basic concepts and research findings, and give examples of the major integrative themes of human language research:
o Language sciences build on empirical evidence and adapt to the development of new data.
o Language sciences study the general principles that govern verbal and nonverbal behavior, recognizing individual differences.
o Psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors influence the communicative processes and behaviors involved.
o Applying psychological principles can help us communicate better and learn languages (including our own!) better.

- Draw appropriate, thoughtful, and objective conclusions about language behavior and mental processes from empirical evidence.
- Evaluate misconceptions or behavioral misstatements based on evidence from the language sciences

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom Lectures. The course will balance the use of frontal lessons, group work (project-based learning, case-based learning), individual and group exploration of the contents, and activities aimed at evaluating the acquisition of the contents during the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1■ Science, Language, and the Science of Language
2■ Origins of Human Language
3■ Language and the Brain
4■ Learning Sound Patterns
5■ Learning Words
6■ Learning the Structure of Sentences
7■ Speech Perception
8■ Word Recognition
9■ Understanding Sentence Structure and Meaning
10■ Speaking: From Planning to Articulation
11■ Discourse and Inference
12■ The Social Side of Language
13■ Language Diversity

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sedivy, J. (2014). Language in mind: An introduction to psycholinguistics. Oxford University Press.

Additional reading materials will be provided during each lecture. Students are advised to consult Aulaweb before buying textbooks and, if in doubt, to write to the instructor.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CLAUDIO MULATTI (President)

DAVID GIOFRE'

GUIDO FRANCO AMORETTI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons start in the Semester 2.

Please register with Aula Web to get access to the course materials and to receive regular updates on office hours and other information related to this course.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test (multiple-choice quizzes and computer-based completion) at the end of the course, covering the textbook and material covered in class that is not covered in the textbook, including audio/video material.

The degree of participation in the activities proposed during the semester will also be taken into consideration positively for the final evaluation, with a score that can be added to that of the written test.

It is mandatory to register for the exam through the AulaWeb student portal.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Knowledge of the major theories and experimental methods covered in the material presented; an understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the most important language behaviors with an emphasis on cognitive processes.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students possessing a “DSA" certification of disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods which, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

Students are referred to the Aulaweb platform for any updates that may become necessary during the course of the academic year (both with regard to the methods of delivery and examination), which may arise due to changes in the current health and epidemiological emergency situation.

For international students, slides and texts in English may be available on request. The exam can be taken in English in the prescribed manner.