Ling 370 Psycholinguistics
Winter,
2004 10-11 M-Th, Gordy 301
Office is Gordy 367; office hours are 11-12, M-Th and by appointment.
Bond@ohio.edu
The goal of psycholinguists is to understand how people acquire and use
language. It is a field with one foot in psychology and the other in linguistics.
Psycholinguistics tends to favor an experimental approach.
Text:
Helen Smith Cairns, Psycholinguistics: An Introduction, 1999.
The text deals with three key topics in psycholinguistics.
1. Biology and human language.
2. Language acquisition.
3. Language production and language understanding.
Reading assignments:
1. Weeks of 5, 12 and 19 January
Chapters 1-3 dealing with language
and biology
19 January is Martin Luther King Day;
the University is closed.
2. Week of 26 January, 2 and 9 February
Chapter 4, dealing with language acquisition.
3. Week of 16 February
Chapter 5, dealing with speech and
language production.
4. Weeks of 23 February, 1 and 8 March
Chapters 6-8, dealing with speech
perception and language understanding.
Special events:
1) W. Tecumseh Fitch, Evolution of language: A comparative
approach, Tuesday, 13 January, 5 p.m. in New Lecture Facility.
2) Stephen Pinker, The blank slate: The modern denial
of human nature, Monday, 8 March, 8 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium.
Course requirements:
1. Midterm examination, Thursday, 12 February
25%
2. Homework and research reports
20%
3. Oral and written report on case study
25%
4. Final examination (Thursday, 18 March, 10 a.m)
25%
5. Class participation
5%
Some matters of business:
1) As I am sure you are aware, cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic
dishonesty are cardinal sins in a university community. One can be penalized
for these both academically and through Student Judiciaries. As per regulations,
here is the University policy on academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct is a Code A violation of the Ohio
University Code of Student Conduct. Academic Misconduct refers to dishonesty
on examinations (cheating), presenting the ideas or the writings of someone
else as one's own (plagiarism), or knowingly furnishing false information
to the University. If you are found to be involved in academic misconduct,
you will receive an F grade on the project or for the class and/or referral
to the Director of Judiciaries with the possible sanctions of expulsion or
suspension.
2) Regrettably, late work may be penalized
3) If you request an Incomplete (I) for this course, the highest final grade
you can receive is B.