The emergence of structure from use

Aims

Aims

The module will expose students to the idea that order and structure are possible outcomes of language use. This view is basic to the emergentist approach to development, but is neither self-evident nor uncontroversial.

By the end of this module students will:

• gain a new perspective for understanding the origins of complex and patterned human behaviours, such as language;
• be able to discuss and write about structure as an emergent phenomenon.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The course lasts for one term.
There are two-hour seminars every other week.

Teaching programme

The module will cover three types of literature:

• Literature showing how language use over time and generations leads to the emergence of structure (phonological, morphological and syntactic);
• Experiments with adults modelling the emergence of structure through interaction, using novel tasks;
• Readings about exemplar models.

Subject content

• Students will become familiar with arguments as to what can be concluded from the evidence provided by linguistic structure: Does it reflect the operation of abstract rules or a preordained plan for the unfolding of structure or can it be seen as the product of learning from use?
• Students will appreciate the power of various constraints on the shaping of linguistic structures – e.g., memory, frequency of use, rate of speech, conversational interaction.

Teaching materials

The key texts are:

• Deutscher, G. (2005). The unfolding of language. London: Arrow Books.
• Bybee, J. (2001). Phonology and language use. Cambridge: CUP.

A selection of chapters from these texts will be assigned, as well as additional papers.

Assessment

Assessment

 Formative work

• essay

Assessment

• 2,500 word essay