Course Outline(心理语言学).doc

Course Outline of “Psychology of Language” Prof. 刘春燕 Jiangxi Normal University Synopsis of the Course The central aim of the course is to develop in students a knowledge and understanding of the key principles, arguments and methods connected with psycholinguistics, which explores the relationship between language and mind. On completion of the course, students will be able to understand the universal characteristics of language, place language in its biological and social contexts, use evidence to defend or refute an argument about the nature of language processing, and apply ideas from basic research to reach potential solutions to problems. Teaching takes the form of two-hour interactive lectures and a one-hour seminar per week. In the lecture, the main points of the syllabus component are presented, mainly by the teacher, and students are then afforded the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding through asking questions, discussing ideas, and performing additional tasks. Students are also directed to additional readings to consolidate and extend their learning. In the seminar, the students are asked to do presentations based on their extensive readings related to the topics in psycholinguistics. The presentations account for 30% of the final grades. Summative assessment (70%) is by one theoretical-critical essay of 3,000 words, to be submitted at the end of the semester. The essay enables students to engage in some depth with the arguments and ideas dealt with in one or more of the syllabus components. Aim of the course This course is an introduction to psychology of language or psycholinguistics. Particular attention will be paid to the mental process of language comprehension, language production and language acquisition. A recommended prerequisite for this course is an introductory course in psychology, especially cognitive psychology. The readings in the course will provide a topical survey of psycholinguistics, with emphasis on percep