SEL3005 : Origins and Evolution of Language
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr Christine Cuskley
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
Aims: To examine recent theories of language origins and evolution from a linguistic perspective; to examine work on the physical evidence concerning the origins of language, especially from a linguistic perspective; to consider additional evidence from a biological, anthropological, neurological and palaeontological perspective.
Outline Of Syllabus
i. Human evolution, genetics, and phylogeny in relation to language (weeks 1 – 4)
ii. Language-relevant changes to the brain and cognition in hominins (week 5)
iii. Communication and relevant cognitive skills in other species (week 6)
iv. The transition to language: Protolanguage and the evolution of syntax and morphology (weeks 7 – 8)
v. Evolution of social cognition, cultural evolution of language, gene culture co-evolution (weeks 9 – 11)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Timetabled lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 47:00 | 47:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEL8033 | Origins and Evolution of Language |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures introduce the relevant points of evolutionary biology as it pertains to language evolution, outline the main concepts and topics in evolutionary linguistics, give definitions and explanations, and discuss the primary hypotheses found in the evolutionary linguistics literature.
Seminars read and digest primary literature, outline the structure of arguments, allow student feedback, and discuss issues arising from the lectures, in smaller groups.
Structured reading and workshops will provide guided practice in reading, critiquing, and discussing primary interdisciplinary scientific lterature, and give practical advice about presenting and constructing an argument, and writing cogently in a scientific discipline.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | A | 50 | 2,000 words |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 50 | 1500 words (short answer) |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Formative quizzes throughout the semester including built in feedback, allowing students to assess their comprehension of readings. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written exercise will assess the students ability to clearly and concisely apply basic concepts of evolution to Linguistics and Social Sciences using a short answer format.
The essay allows assessment of a student’s understanding of the concepts and issues covered, their grasp of the major hypotheses in the field, and their ability to argue cogently, clearly and concisely, including their ability to use correctly the technical terminology required in an evolutionary science.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL3005's Timetable