Language and Cognition

This course constitutes an introduction to cognition phenomena and language processing. The main goal is to investigate how the human mind (and, ultimately, the human brain) stores and uses language on line. The course seeks to provide students with basic knowledge about the psychological reality of language and of the way in which the mind makes use (or not) of grammatical knowledge in ordinary language use.

1. Introduction to psycholinguistics: aims, scope and methods.
2. Experience or genes. Innateness.
3. The biology of language. Acquisition.
4. Words in the mind.
5. Production, comprehension and parsing.
6. Cognitive linguistics: introduction (guiding assumptions, architecture) and models.

Basic

Acuña Fariña, C. 2024. Syntactic Processing. An overview. Routledge.
Acuña Fariña, C. 2024. Homo Loquens. Cómo habita el lenguaje en la mente. Comares.Aitchison, J. 1996. The Seeds of Speech. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Aitchison, J. 2001. Language Change: Progress or Decay? Cambridge: C.U.P.
Aitchison, J. 2003. Words in the Mind. Oxford: Blackwell.
Aitchison, J. 2008. The Articulate Mammal. London: Unwin Hyman.
Altman, G. 1997. The Ascent of Babel. Oxford: O.U.P.
Carroll, D.W. 2008. Psychology of Language. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole.
Evans, Vyvyan and Melanie Green. 2006. Cognitive linguistics. An introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Field, John. 2004. Psycholinguistics: a resource book for students. London: Routledge.
Field, John. 2005. Language and the mind. London: Routledge.
Garman, M. 1990. Psycholinguistics. Cambridge: C.U.P .
Geeraerts, Dirk and Hubert Cuyckens eds. 2007. The Oxford handbook of Cognitive linguistics. Oxford: O.U.P.
Hawkins, John A. 2004. Efficiency and complexity in grammars. Oxford: O.U.P.
Jackendoff, R. 1993. Patterns in the Mind. New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Jackendoff, R. 2002. Foundations of language. Oxford: O.U.P.
Pinker, S. 1994. The Language Instinct. London: Penguin.
Rohdenburg, Günter and Britta Mondorf. 2003. Determinants of grammatical variation in English. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Steinberg, Danny D. 2006 [1993]. An introduction to psycholinguistics. Harlow, Essex: Longman.

Complementary
Gaskell, M.G. 2009. The Oxford Handbook of Psycholinguistics. Oxford: O.U.P.

G01, G02, G03, G04, G05, G06, G07, G08, G09,G10, E01, E02, E04


GENERAL
G01 - Ability to delve into those concepts, principles, theories or models related to the various areas of English Studies, as well as to become familiar with the methodology required to solve those problems typical of this field of study.
G02 - Ability to apply the knowledge gained/obtained within the multidisciplinary and mutifaceted/versatile area of English Studies.
G03 - Ability to use the new information and communication technologies (ICTs) efficiently within the realm of English Studies.
G04 - Ability to present experiences, ideas or reports in public, as well as to express informed opinions based on criteria, external rules or personal reflections, for which a sufficient command of the academic and scientific language, both written and oral, will be necessary.
G05 - Abilities to investigate and manage new knowledge and information within the context of English Studies.
G06 - Ability to acquire/achieve critical thinking that will lead students to consider the relevance of the existing research in the fields of study that make up/shape/define English Studies, as well as the relevance of their own investigations.
G07 - Abilities to consolidate and develop the C2 linguistic competence in the spoken and written use of the English language.
G08 - Progressive autonomy in the learning process, personal/individual search for resources and information, by getting access/accessing (to) bibliographical and documentary references on the various areas that make up/define/shape English Studies.
G09 - Ability to carry out research work of an academic nature in the different realms of English Studies.
G10 - Ability to present and defend a research project by making use of the appropriate terminology and resources/tools within the area object of study.

SPECIFIC
E01 - Knowledge of the main methods of linguistic research.
E02 - Knowledge of the main resources, tools and methods for linguistic research.
E04 - Knowledge of the studies on cognition and processing in English linguistic research.

Classes are presented as seminars for discussion. Office hours will preferentially be face-to-face but not necessarily: any institutional on-line platform may be used. .

In the 'virtual campus' students may find additional materials for various course topics.

Attendance to class is compulsory.

Active participation in class: 20%. of final grade (Competences involved: G01, G02, G05, E01, E02, E04)

Course assignments: 60%. (Competences involved: G02, G04, G05, G06, E01, E02, E04)

Oral and written skills; correct structuring and presentation of the course assignments: up to 20%. (Competences involved: G02, G04, G05, G06)


Second chance: written essay (100%)

Students with leave of absence: assessment will be based on a final written essay (= 100%).

a) Total number of hours = 75
b) Top classroom work time= 14;
c) Top work time through the virtual platform = 10;
d) Students individual work time = 51

The reading of the suggested references is highly recommended.