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Language & Development I - PSY00004C

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Hannah Hobson
  • Credit value: 30 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

Two faculties that set us apart from other animals are our extraordinary capacity to learn and to communicate. This module focuses on these faculties through the psychological study of infant and child development, and the acquisition of language skills from infancy to adulthood. The module begins with a broad introduction to language and development, leading to a more detailed look at infancy (including cognitive, linguistic, and motoric abilities) and early language acquisition. The module ends with consideration of how, as adults, we manage to recognize the sounds we hear as comprising individual words.

Module learning outcomes

  • Describe the major stages through which infants pass as they develop into young children.
  • Give an account of how language acquisition proceeds, from ‘babbling’ to early competence with the grammar of the native language to which the child is exposed.
  • Describe how the infant’s sensitivities to the sounds of language change with increased exposure to, and practice with, the native language from before birth onwards.
  • Give an overview of the psychological processes which, taking sounds as input, lead to the recognition of that input as a sequence of individuated words.

Module content

Year 1 begins with a broad introduction to language and development, leading to a more detailed look at infancy (including cognitive, linguistic, and motoric abilities) and early language acquisition. Year 1 ends with a consideration of how, as adults, we manage to recognize the sounds we hear as comprising individual words.

  • TB1: Introduction to Language
  • TB2: Introduction to Development
  • TB3: Infancy
  • TB4: Language Development
  • TB5: Sounds and Words

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Language & Development (Paper 1)		 1 hours 25
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Language & Development (Paper 2)		 1.5 hours 30
Essay/coursework
1650 Word Essay		 N/A 20
Essay/coursework
Practical		 N/A 20
Groupwork
Mini Project		 N/A 5

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Language & Development (Paper 1)		 1 hours 25
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Language & Development (Paper 2)		 1.5 hours 30
Essay/coursework
1650 Word Essay		 N/A 20
Essay/coursework
Practical		 N/A 20

Module feedback

The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.

Students will meet supervisors in wk 6 in AuT, SpT and wk 9 in SuT to discuss their marks.

Indicative reading

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

Slater S. & Bremner, J. G. (2011). An Introduction to Developmental Psychology, 2nd edition.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring 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 by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.