411 Introduction to Language Acquisition (4 units)

Meetings

MW 3:35 - 4:55 - Machmer W-24

Instructors

Thomas Roeper []

Description

How does a child choose one grammar from a million possible grammars? How are grammar and thought alike and not alike. Stresses the child's use of an inborn linguistic mechanism to produce creative sentences. Acquisition of syntax and semantics from the one-word stage through complex utterances. Linguistic principles as a window to unconscious principles of mind. Recent discoveries in the area of complex syntax. Students learn to search naturalistic data and do a small experiment.

Prerequisites

LINGUIST 201