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Psycholinguistics: Language Processing - LAN00027H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the study of language as a product of the mind. The module introduces fundamental concepts in cognitive science through the lens of experimental work on language comprehension and production at different levels of representation, from sound to meaning. This hands-on approach to experimental work in psycholinguistics will serve to introduce different theories of language processing and provide foundational concepts allowing students to scaffold what they learned in theoretical modules into a broader conceptual structure.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Language provides a unique window into the human mind. By referring to a variety of experimental methods and results we aim to model the mental processes that allow us to convert a continuous stream of sound waves into meaning, breaking it down into smaller parts (phonemes, words) which are then grouped together in more complex representations (phrases, sentences) and meanings.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student should:

• 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

The module will provide a broad introduction to the study of language as a cognitive science. It will focus on different levels of representation and processing (speech, words, sentences, discourse) and summarise relevant evidence from the experimental literature (including illusions, production errors, slips of the tongue/ear, comprehension errors, Reaction Times and eye movements).

The module will cover a selection of the following areas:

• Speech and phonological processing
• Lexical Access
• Morphological Processing
• Syntactic Processing
• Semantic Processing
• Discourse Processing
• Prosodic Processing
• Experimental methods in psycholinguistics

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 35
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 60
Practical 5

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

• Weekly group level feedback on formative exercises will be provided at the seminar
• Feedback on research participation will be provided in class in Week 11
• Group level feedback for the formative assessment will be provided in Week 7
• Feedback for summative assignment will be provided in Week 11
• Feedback for final exam will be provided 25 working days after the exam

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.