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Subject description

21D00003 - Poreklo i razvoj jezicke sposobnosti

Course specification
Course title
Acronym 21D00003
Study programme
Module
Type of study
Lecturer (for classes)
Lecturer/Associate (for practice)
    Lecturer/Associate (for OTC)
      ESPB 9.0 Status
      Condition / Oblik uslovljenosti
      The goal The goal of the course is to introduce students to the major issues and topics concerning the origin and development of the language faculty through phylogenesis and ontogenesis. Students will be introduced to different approaches in this area of research and will have the opportunity not only to integrate and apply the knowledge of the disciplines with which they are already familiar (linguistics, psycholinguistics, language acquisition), but also to acquire the basic concepts and knowledge of other disciplines (neuropsychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology) involved in this interdisciplinary field of science.
      The outcome After the course, students will understand the major topics and issues from an interdisciplinary field such as language development. They will be able to follow the current literature in the field and take a critical stance on it, arguing for or against particular viewpoints.
      Contents
      Contents of lectures Introduction – overview of topics; Adaptive function of language; Characteristics of the language system, differences from other communicative systems, the language of primates vs. human language; Biological basis of language; Possible stages in the development of language ability in the human species; The emergence of language as a series of gradual or sudden changes; Vocal or gestural origin of language; Protolanguage; Syntax and meaning; Linguistic universals; Touch points of language evolution and language acquisition;
      Contents of exercises
      Literature
      1. Christansen, M. H. & Kirby, S. (2003). Language evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press (odabrana poglavlja) (Original title)
      2. Fitch, W. T. (2010). The Evolution of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (odabrana poglavlja) (Original title)
      3. Tomasello, M. (2008). Origins of Human Communication. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (odabrana poglavlja) (Original title)
      4. Tallerman, M. & Gibson, K. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Language Evolution. Oxford University Press. (Original title)
      5. Berwick, R.C. & Chomsky, N. (2015). Why Only Us: Language and Evolution. The MIT Press. (Original title)
      Number of hours per week during the semester/trimester/year
      Lectures Exercises OTC Study and Research Other classes
      4
      Methods of teaching Lectures, group discussions, consultations
      Knowledge score (maximum points 100)
      Pre obligations Points Final exam Points
      Activites during lectures 10 Test paper
      Practical lessons Oral examination 60
      Projects
      Colloquia
      Seminars 30