Studying at York
Psycholinguistics: First & second language acquisition - LAN00018M
- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
This module introduces the field of language acquisition research, including language acquisition research methods, data, and theory. The module focuses on child first language acquisition of phonology and syntax, but covers at least one additional area of language acquisition, such as adult second language acquisition or child bilingualism.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The module provides
- an overview of child first language acquisition, focusing on phonology and syntax
- an introduction to related topics including some (but not necessarily all) of the following: adult second language acquisition, child bilingualism, language development in special populations
- an introduction to theories of language acquisition
- an introduction to methods of investigation language acquisition
Module learning outcomes
Students should acquire:
- a basic understanding of the typical sequence of child language development in the areas of phonology and syntax;
- a basic understanding of key issues in language acquisition in at least one related area. This may include adult second language acquisition, child bilingualism, and/or language acquisition in special populations, and may vary from year to year;
- knowledge of the techniques used in studying language development;
- an awareness of the relationship between languages acquisition data and general issues of linguistic competence/performance and cognition in general;
- an awareness of the role of linguistic theory in developing accounts of language acquisition.
Academic and graduate skills
- Students will practise the following skills during this module: academic writing, analytic reasoning, understanding experiment design, reading and interpreting statistical data.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback on formative work is provided within two weeks of submission.
Feedback on summative work is provided within six weeks of submission.
Indicative reading
Readings to be assigned at the start of the module.