The course provides an overview of the cognitive approach to language processing and learning. Students will gain a broad understanding of how different components of language (letters, words, sounds, syntax, and meaning) are processed and represented in monolinguals and bilinguals, how fundamental principles of learning and memory may be relevant to first and second language processing and learning, and how language patterns may be learnt without intention and awareness.

 

Cognitive approach to language processing and learning; priming; visual and spoken word recognition; connectionism; lexical and syntactic processing; bilingual advantage; representation of meaning and concepts; declarative/procedural knowledge and language learning; implicit and explicit language learning

 

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. understand major theoretical issues in the cognitive approach to language processing and learning
2. explain important psycholinguistic phenomena with reference to relevant models
3. demonstrate an understanding of the range of methodological approaches in language processing and learning research

 

A two-hour lecture per week. The third timetabled hour may be used for covering an additional topic, reviewing workshop exercises/quiz, or consultation

 

• Workshop exercises and participation (25%)

• Mid-term quiz (35%)

• Term essay (40%)

 

Recommended readings:      

• Harley, T. A. (2014). The psychology of language: From data to theory (4^th Ed). Psychology Press.
• Traxler, M.J. (2012). Introduction to Psycholinguistics. Wiley-Blackwell.     
• Warren, P. (2013). Introducing Psycholinguistics. Cambridge University Press.   
• Rebuschat, P. (Ed.) (2015). Implicit and Explicit Learning of Languages. John Benjamins.

Additional readings will also be recommended throughout the course.