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Psycholinguistics - LAN00027H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module provides an overview of issues in psycholinguistics. It will focus on different levels of representation and processing (speech, words, sentences, discourse) and summarise relevant evidence from illusions, errors (slips of the tongue/ear, comprehension errors), Reaction Time, eye movement, together with results from developmental and acquired disorders.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module provides an overview of issues in psycholinguistics. It will focus on different levels of representation and processing (speech, words, sentences, discourse) and summarise relevant evidence from illusions, errors (slips of the tongue/ear, comprehension errors), Reaction Time, eye movement, together with results from developmental and acquired disorders.

The module will cover a selection of the following areas (not all areas will be covered each time the module is offered):

  • Speech perception, comprehension, and production
  • Speech errors
  • Lexical Access
  • Morphological Processing
  • Syntactic Processing
  • Discourse Processing
  • Experimental methods in psycholinguistics
  • Language acquisition and breakdown
  • Language in the brain (a brief introduction)

Module learning outcomes

  • Have a good understanding of key issues in psycholinguistics
  • Be familiar with methods in psycholinguistic research
  • Be familiar with major results in the areas of psycholinguistics covered
  • Be able to critically evaluate some of the issues involved in psycholinguistics

Module content

Topics will include:

  • speech perception
  • lexical access
  • morphological processing
  • syntactic processing

(experimentation in psycholinguistics is covered in most of these areas)

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Open Exam (5 days) 60

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Open Exam (5 days) 100

Module feedback

Formative assessment

Frequent exercises with feedback provided throughout the term..

Summative feedback

Written feedback to be provided within 20 working days.

Indicative reading

Try dipping into the suggestions below or into any other 'Introduction to Psycholinguistics' textbook you come across. (Note that these are not set textbooks for the module.)

  • Altmann, Gerry. T. M. (1997). The Ascent of Babel. Oxford University Press.
  • Fernández Eva M. & Helen Smith Cairns. 2010. Fundamentals of Psycholinguistics. Wiley-Blackwell.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.