Human Language and Mind - ALINV411B

• Title: Human Language and Mind (Bc.)
• Guaranteed by: Institute of Linguistics (21-ULING)
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• Points: 0
• E-Credits: 3
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, C [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (22)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. doc. Eva Eckertová, Ph.D.
• Class: Exchange - 09.3 Linguistics

Annotation

English

Last update: Mgr. Michal Láznička, Ph.D. (21.09.2021)

HUMAN LANGUAGE and MIND deals with psychological and cognitive aspects of language as key to human brain, mind and creativity. It tackles the interrelation of language, thought and brain; language in mediating experience, remembering and creating meaning; the instinctive, emotional and rational in human cognition; pre-linguistic vs. linguistic cognition; language acquisition in children; bilinguals’ speaking and thinking; and sign language. The course provides a perspective on language as foundational to human culture and mind.

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Michal Láznička, Ph.D. (21.09.2021)

Kurz je vyučován v angličtině, popis kurzu vizte v anglické anotaci.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Mgr. Michal Láznička, Ph.D. (21.09.2021)

Assignment		Weight in “ZÁPOČET”	Comments and learning outcomes
Attendance and participation, discussion of assigned READINGS		40 %	Continual progress through the topics Attendance and class preparation are mandatory; missing more than 5 classes entails failing the course
Midterm and final tests on the topics and concepts		20 and 20%	Defining concepts and understanding theoretical issues
Student presentation on a small individual research project directly related to the topics covered in class		20 %	Presenting on a research project, in class

Literature

Last update: prof. doc. Eva Eckertová, Ph.D. (23.09.2021)

1. SEDIVY, Julie, Language in Mind, 2018, Oxford University Press

Also covered: Diessel, G. Learning vs. growth, in Language in Use

Evans, Vyvan. Language is not an instinct

Lupyan, Gary & Ben Berger, How Language Programs The Mind

Premack, David 2004. Is Language a key to human intelligence? in Science

Tomasello, Michael. Usage-based language acquisition

Teaching methods

Last update: Mgr. Michal Láznička, Ph.D. (21.09.2021)

HUMAN LANGUAGE and MIND is a seminar introducing diverse topics through presentations, discussion and video documentaries. The focus is on posing questions and analyzing readings.

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Michal Láznička, Ph.D. (21.09.2021)

Oct 11 CLASS 1	Topic: ORIGINS OF SPEECH and MODERN MAN Description:  Cognition, language intelligence and language creativity Nativist vs. anti-nativist views/ Instinct and language module vs. social learning and cognition TED: The search for human ancestors in Ethiopia, by Z. Alemseged https://www.ted.com/talks/zeresenay_alemseged_looks_for_humanity_s_roots?language=en Human ancestors vs. modern humans: What we need to add to the mind to get language? (J. Searle) Animals’ communication systems vs. the language of humans (D. Premack) What are the reasons for the rise of humans and modern language? TED Talk by Y. N. Harari How language transformed humanity, TED Talk by M. Pagel Readings: Sedivy, ch. 2, pp. 9-31 Assignment: Web activity 2.1-2.3 in http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/
Oct 18 CLASS 2	Topic: HOW HUMANS INVENT LANGUAGE Description: Inventing and learning language           Gesturing, babbling, speaking, writing and signing           Language change: Survival of the fittest? Language diversity           The birth of a language documentary (investing sign language in Nicaragua)           Understanding language, UC lecture by J. Elman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1pbnWcabMY Readings: Sedivy, ch. 2, pp. 31-50 Assignment: Web activity  2.4-2.5  http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/
Oct 25 CLASS 3	Topic: LANGUAGE and the BRAIN Description: Genetic disorders: Specific language disorder, dyslexia, etc.         The quest to understand consciousness, TED Talk by A. Damasio         Understanding language, by J. Elman (cont.) Readings: Sedivy, ch. 3, pp. 54-67 Recommended: Language is not an instinct, by V. Evans Assignment: Web activity in http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/
Nov 1   CLASS 4	Topic: MAPPING LANGUAGE in the BRAIN      Description: How does brain process, perceive and produce language? McGilchrist,The Divided Brain, TED Talk Reading: Sedivy, ch. 3, pp. 67-84 Assignment: Web activity in http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/
Nov 8   CLASS 5	TBA
Nov. 18   CLASS 6	Topic: INFANTS’ LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING SOUND PATTERNS                          Description: How infants learn: The nature of speaking; Sound recognition and matching sounds to words;                       Concepts and reference Reading: Learning sounds, in Sedivy, ch. 4
Nov 22   CLASS 7	Topic: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING WORDS         Logic and brain, TED Talk by Laura Schultz                                                                                                  Description:  The nature of speaking; Sound recognition and matching sounds to words;                       Concepts and reference Readings: Learning words, in Sedivy, ch. 5 Assignment: Web activity in http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind
Nov 29   CLASS 8	Topic: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: LEARNING THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES                                                                                                             Description: How does mind build “logical“ sentences and “correct“ grammatical structures? Readings: Learning the structure of words and sentences, in Sedivy, ch. 5, pp. 168-80, and ch. 6, pp. 185-200
Dec 6   CLASS 9	Topic: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY                           Description: Language universals; Speakers’ learning biases Reading: Sedivy, pp. 471-492, ch. 12.1 and 12.2 Assignment: web activities of http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/
Dec 13   CLASS 10	Topic: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY                           Description: Words, concepts and cultures Reading: Sedivy, pp. 492-516, ch. 12.3-12.5 Assignment: web activities and maps on variation across languages http://sites.sinauer.com/languageinmind/wa12.01.html