* LIN 308 / TRA 303 (EC)
The course covers the linguistic, psycholinguistic, neurolinguistic, and sociolinguistic aspects of bilingualism. We examine language acquisition in monolingual and bilingual children, the notion of "critical age" for language acquisition, definitions and measurements of bilingualism, and the verbal behavior of bilinguals such as code-switching. We consider the effects of bilingualism on other cognitive domains, including memory, and examine neurolinguistic evidence comparing the brains of monolinguals and bilinguals. Societal and governmental attitudes toward bilingualism in countries like India and the U.S. are contrasted.
Sample reading list:
Bosch, L. & Sebastian-Galles, N., Evidence of Early Language Discrimination
Pettito, L. & Dunbar, K., New Findings from Educational Neuroscience
Kroll, J. & Dussias, P., The Comprehensions of Words and Sentences in Two Languages
DeKlerk, V., Codeswitching, Borrowing and Mixing
Fillmore, L., When Learning a Second Language Means Losing the First
See instructor for complete list
Class discussion is based on assigned readings (approx. 60 pages/week). Students are expected to complete them before class. Written assignments consist of two take-home problem sets, an in-class mid-term exam and a term paper on a topic agreed upon between the student and the instructor.
Mid Term Exam - 20%
Paper in lieu of Final - 30%
Papers - 40%
Class/Precept Participation - 10%
|20652||C01||3:00 pm - 4:20 pm||T Th||Bobst Hall 105||Enrolled:23 Limit:19||Closed|