Language Science

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the scientific study of language as a cognitive ability. We will explore questions such as: What is a language from a cognitive perspective? What should a scientific theory of language explain? How can we describe our cognitive ability for language in the terms of cognitive (neuro-)science (such as representations and processes)? What does a scientific theory of language tell us about the complexity of the human mind? How is it that children can acquire languages relatively effortlessly while adults require intense training and practice? And, ultimately, how can we use our scientific knowledge of language to be better citizens in a global society? By the end of this course, students will be able to apply the tools of language science to their own languages, and apply the lessons that we learn about the nature of language to their own experiences in the world.