LNGS2615: Semester 2, 2022

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Units LNGS2615 Semester 2 2022 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

LNGS2615: Language, Brain and Mind

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

We will discuss interdisciplinary research on language, brain, and mind. We will look at descriptive, experimental, and theoretical work on language in use, and its cognitive functions. We will consider implications for linguistic theory of research on language in psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Topics include: language and the brain, language learning, speech perception, language production, language and action, language and cooperation, language and reasoning, language and concepts, nativism, linguistic relativity.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	LNGS2615
Academic unit	Linguistics
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in Linguistics or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Psychology or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Anthropology or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Philosophy
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Nick Enfield, nick.enfield@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Mid-term paper n/a	30%	Week 08 Due date: 20 Sep 2022 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Article review n/a	20%	Week 10 Due date: 11 Oct 2022 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research paper n/a	50%	Week 12 Due date: 25 Oct 2022 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

Article Review: (i) Present in class, 4 minutes:
1. What is the article about?

2. My favourite thing in it

3. One problem with it

4. How it relates outside of linguistics

(ii) Write this up in the form of a 'review' of 1000 words for assessment.
Mid-term paper: Christiansen and Chater (2008) propose four types of constraints on the evolution of language: (1) thought, (2) perceptuo-motor, (3) cognition, and (4) social-pragmatic.

Define these four constraints and explain how we can use them to understand the relation betwen language and the brain.
Research paper: Identify a proposition in any of the course readings and write an essay that considers arguments and evidence both for and against this proposition. Make an argument in support of the conclusion that you think is correct.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Overview: what is language? What is brain? What is mind?	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Brain and core language capacity	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Cognition and the semiotic process	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Language as shaped by the brain	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Cognitive and other biases on language transmission and structuration	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Conceptual semantics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Priming and Overshadowing	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Linguistic relativity	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Co-speech gesture and mind	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Language and the social mind	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Processing language in the flow of conversation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Misunderstanding and repair	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Action and agency	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. critically judge the theoretical ideas they are taught and read about, employ rigorous and independent thinking in applying these ideas in evaluations of case studies, argue for their point of view
LO2. acquire knowledge of current theoretical approaches and empirical findings in research on language, brain, and mind, understand how these ideas apply to analytical problems in various domains in this field, acquire knowledge of a number of case studies in this field
LO3. critically engage in debates about issues relating to how language, brain, and mind relate, including issues of language acquisition, the relation between language and thought, and the relation between language and social cognition and action.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered'.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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