Postgraduate Course: Origins and Evolution of Language (LASC11112)
Course Outline
School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | A survey of current scientific thinking on the origins and evolution of language and the human language faculty. |
Course description |
We will review current theories which attempt to explain how and why human language evolved, covering both the biological evolution of the human capacity for language, and cultural evolution of languages themselves. Modern evolutionary linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field, and we will touch on the basics of evolutionary biology, animal communication and animal cognition, fieldwork on emerging sign languages, and computational models and experimental studies of language evolution pioneered here in Edinburgh, among other topics. No prior knowledge of these areas is assumed.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- speak and write informedly and responsibly about the origins of language
- critically evaluate theories of the origins and evolution of language, based on empirical evidence
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Reading List
Fitch, W.T. (2010) The Evolution of Language. Cambridge University Press. |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critically evaluating arguments on the basis of evidence. |
Keywords | language evolution,evolution,comparative psychology |
Contacts
Course organiser | Prof Kenny Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 3956
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Sasha Wood
Tel:
Email: |
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