LS2CL: Child Language Development

Module Provider:

Applied Linguistics

Number of credits:

10 [5 ECTS credits]

Level:

I (Intermediate)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn

Module Convenor:

Dr J Field

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2007/8

Aims:
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of language development in normal children, and with a broader appreciation of how such information may complement theories of language structure and function, and provide a basis for interpreting abnormal language development.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:
• identify and interpret the main stages of early language development in the phonology, grammar, lexis and morphology of English, and recognise the chief characteristics of speech directed at infants by adults
• critically evaluate one of the commonly used measures of language development
• make use of the SALT computational resource for the analysis of child language, and make principled coding decisions
• make limited judgements about the nature and patterns of child language development based upon transcript evidence

Additional outcomes:
The module develops general analytic skills. It extends the students’ ability to undertake linguistic analysis of various kinds (syntactic, morphological, lexical, phonetic) by comparing data at different stages of development. It develops their ability to carry out computer-aided analysis and interpretation. It also exposes the students to the type of general statistical analysis used in empirical measures of language performance.

Outline content:
The first half of the module focuses on the documented grammatical development of one child, Sophie, from the age of 2 to 4 years. This provides a general outline of typical early phases of language development, based on the analysis of samples of child language data. The difficulties of encoding certain linguistic features will be discussed; and practical solutions will be proposed that reflect the way in which a child acquires its lexis and syntax. Students will be introduced to current computational resources including CHILDES and SALT; hands-on practice in using SALT for analysing child data is an important element of this part of the course.
The second part of the module continues the data-driven approach but links it to findings in the literature relating to the development of morphology, the sound system, vocabulary and syntax. There will also be an analysis of the quality, syntactic accuracy and quantity of speech directed at children by their carers. Emphasis will be laid throughout on using child language data to apply linguistic concepts from core modules.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures based on tasks and analysis of data; practical computer-aided language analysis.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework:
Students will analyse transcribed data and use it to report on the development of a child (1000 words)
Relative percentage of coursework: 30%
Examinations:
A two-hour end-of-year examination in which students are required to answer two questions
Relative percentage of coursework: 70%
Requirements for a pass: A mark of 40% overall.
Reassessment arrangements: Re-examination in September