Brief description

This module presents a description and discussion of first language acquisition, examining descriptive facts, methodology of investigation, and explanations of acquisition. The descriptive approach establishes 'what happens when?', the explanatory approach attempts to answer 'how' and 'why' acquisition takes place as it does.

Aims

• To develop an awareness of the various features of first language acquisition on a descriptive level.
• To appreciate the methods and principles that are used to analyse language acquisition, and thus develop specific analytic skills to explore its characteristics.
• To use their descriptive knowledge and analytic skills to assess explanations of how children acquire language, and to assess any influences on first language acquisition.

Syllabus

The lectures of the module are based on the following:

• An Introduction.
• Methodological considerations.
• The development of pronunciation
• Word meaning: comprehension.
• Word meaning: production.
• Early multi-word utterances.
• Later multi-word utterances.
• Developmental paths.
• Theoretical explanations of first language acquisition.
• Influences on first language acquisition.

Tutorial / seminar work will be based:

• partly on additional themes which individual students will investigate and present to the rest of the class,
• and partly on pursuing in further detail selected themes form the lectures

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should:

• be aware of the principles and the methods of first language acquisition;
• be able to apply these principles and methods to the analysis of data;
• be aware of explanations of explanations of how a first lanaguage is acquired, and be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches;
• be aware of different views on influences of first language acquisition and development, and be able to assess their strengths and weaknesses.

Reading Lists