Course description
Natural Language (i.e. spoken by humans) is just one cognitive function among others. This course explains its building blocks, both architecturally and according to the type of information processed. Relevant computational systems are syntax, semantics, pragmatics, morphology, phonology, phonetics, which all work on lexical information retrieved from long-term memory. The study of how they communicate with each other is called interface theory. Specific properties of these computational systems are discussed, as well as how exactly they access information stored in long-term memory. Social aspects of language are addressed (group recognition), as well as its diachronic evolution, transmission through generations and acquisition by infants.
Finally, the architecture of grammar is evaluated in the light of what we know about the general workings of the human mind: what exactly is specific to the computation of language (domain-specific), what are mere applications of more general cognitive mechanisms to language (domain-general), in which way are the workings / theories of language constrained by the workings / theories of the human cognitive system? This requires some insight into cognitive science as such, as well as into its relationship with neuroscience.
| Teacher | Face to Face hours | Working hours | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tobias Scheer | 30 | 60 | 6 |