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Advanced Development & Language 1 - PSY00011I

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Hannah Hobson
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to give students an understanding of how we understand meaning through the mapping between words, grammar, and world knowledge. It then will introduce students to the models and evidence that examine the neuroscience of language production and comprehension.

Module learning outcomes

  • Define terms such as “ambiguity”, “parsing”, and “syntax”, and explain their significance for theories of language understanding
  • Understand how meanings affect word recognition
  • Evaluate evidence relating to decoding the grammatical structure of a sentence
  • Understand the high level aspects of communication such as how conversations are structured
  • Understand the role of the left and right hemisphere in language processing and the main processing streams involved in speech comprehension and production
  • Describe Cognitive models of reading and neural mechanisms involved in reading words
  • Understand Disorders of reading, particularly, dyslexia
  • Describe and discuss models of the organization of meaning in the brain and the evidence from various studies examining specific semantic properties
  • Understand disorders of language at the sentence level and atypical language networks.

Module content

This module begins by considering how, as children and adults, we understand meaning through the mapping between words, grammar, and world knowledge. In the second half of the course students will learn about some basic brain mechanisms that make language and communication possible, as well as the different neuropsychological disorders that can occur as a result of brain damage.

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Advanced Development & Language 1		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Advanced Development & Language 1		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Marks will be released via e:vision.

Indicative reading

Harley, T. A. (2008). The Psychology of Language: From data to theory (3rd. ed.) Hove: Psychology Press.


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.