Module LING3641: EVOLUTIONARY LINGUISTICS

Department: Linguistics and English Language

LING3641: EVOLUTIONARY LINGUISTICS

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To examine physical evidence concerning language origins, especially from a linguistic perspective.
• consider additional evidence from a biological, neurological and palaeontological perspective.
• examine recent theories of language evolution and dispersal.

Content

• This module investigates issues surrounding the origins, evolution and dispersal of Language in Homo Sapiens.
• It considers such questions as the following: Is Language a uniquely human faculty? Could Language have evolved through Darwinian natural selection? Is there continuity or discontinuity with animal communication systems? What is the relevance of growth in brain size in the species? Does Language emerge primarily from gesture, vocalisation, both, or neither? Is the emergence of Language in the species sudden or gradual? What are the neurological bases for Language? A number of current theories of Language evolution are explained and evaluated, with particular emphasis on linguistically-informed work.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students will have gained: knowledge of relevant stages in human evolution.
• understanding of major design features for Language.
• knowledge of key theories of language evolution, and subsequent dispersal, from the linguist's perspective.
• basic information relevant to language origins from other key disciplines.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching will combine lectures, which present the major aspects of each of the 7 or 8 main topics within Evolutionary Linguistics, and seminars, at which students will make a presentation in a small group, of perhaps 30 minutes duration, focussing on one particular part of a debate, or outlining two or three competing theories.
• Seminars will enable students to start preparing an essay plan for the summative assessment, through focussed reading on some aspect of the module.
• Formative assessment (notes to be handed in on one or two chapters/papers, on 4 occasions) will ensure that participants are reading appropriate material, and understanding the issues.
• The summative work (one 5,000 word essay) is a long, directed piece of work which will enable participants to examine in depth one or more topics of particular interest, and consider all relevant (linguistic) angles in detail.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Notes, not exceeding 2 sides of A4 typed and single-spaced on one paper or up to 2 chapters of a book, to be submitted on 4 occasions during the module.