Psycholinguistics (level 6)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Professor Marjorie Lorch
• Prerequisite: Approaches to Language
• Assessment: a 2500-3000-word essay (100%)

This module will help you understand how we learn about language processing from research on children and adults and from bilingualism, as well as a range of further sources, including experimental research on the comprehension and production of spoken and written language.

You will also develop your knowledge of current theories of psycholinguistics and be able to appreciate the types of methodology used to investigate various aspects of language processing.

Indicative syllabus

• Aspects of human and non-human communication systems
• Auditory processing and language comprehension
• Spoken and written language production
• Language, thought and culture
• Pragmatics of conversation

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand aims, methods, concepts and theories and their place within the wider study of language
• apply concepts and principles to new data or contexts
• demonstrate knowledge of the main methods of enquiry and the different approaches to solving problems in the field of study
• understand the limits of your knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge
• use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and propose solutions to problems
• effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
• deploy key techniques effectively
• undertake further training, develop existing skills and acquire new competences that will enable you to assume significant responsibility within groups and organisations.