Psychology 2134B 650
Psychology of Language
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2022-2023
Psychology 2134B Section 650
Psychology of Language
(Revised Dec 2022)
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the vocabulary and concepts used by psychologists who study human language. The course covers traditional psycholinguistic topics such as meaning, speech perception, comprehension, production and theories of language acquisition.
Antirequisite: Not Applicable
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. If you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
Prerequisite: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
Number of Lecture Hours: 4, online video lectures; Course Weight: 0.5
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Nicolette Armstrong
Office Hours: Virtual, by appointment only
Email: nnoonan3@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Kara Hannah
Office Hours: Virtual, by appointment only
Email: khannah6@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Course material for each week will be posted via OWL on Mondays (virtual/asynchronous)
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca or 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Required text: Pearl, L., & Braunwald, S. (2015). Language in mind: An introduction to psycholinguistics by Julie Sedivy. Language, 91(4), e181-e183.
Lectures will help explain ideas in the readings, but will not fully recapitulate everything you have read. All required readings should be completed prior to lecture so that you are prepared for the lecture material. The weekly quizzes and exams may not overlap completely with what I discuss in the lectures.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
Psycholinguistics is the study of how people produce and understand language. It is a branch of cognitive science, which is the study of mental processes. This course will cover many areas of research, including: the structure of language; language acquisition; speech perception and production; sentence processing; reading; language and the brain; and language disorders. The goal of the course is to familiarize you with psychological phenomena related to language, theories that try to explain how and why these phenomena occur, and experimental evidence supporting or challenging these theories.
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge - Compare and contrast speech, language and communication. - Identify pathways and structures in the brain important for language functions. |
Textbook reading Written lectures Video lectures |
Multiple choice/Short answer/Essay answer exams, multiple choice quizzes |
|
Application of Knowledge - Evaluate theories of language processing (e.g., speech perception, sentence comprehension, word retrieval and speech production). - Analyze differences in phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax and pragmatics across global languages. |
Textbook reading Written lectures Video lectures |
Multiple choice/Short answer/Essay answer exams, multiple choice quizzes |
|
Knowledge of Methodologies - Describe research methods for assessing perception and production of speech and language across the lifespan. |
Textbook reading Written lectures Video lectures |
Multiple choice/Short answer/Essay answer exams, multiple choice quizzes |
|
Communication Skills - Initiate and facilitate discussions pursuant to the course content. - Engage in thoughtful communication with course peers. |
Forum discussion |
Online participation |
5.0 EVALUATION
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives.
Online Participation 5% of final mark
Weekly Quizzes (11) 20% of final mark (based on students best 10 of 11 quiz grades)
Midterm Examination 35% of final mark
Final Examination 40% of final mark
Formats
Online participation will involve participating in online forum discussions. Weekly engagement is not required, however, regular engagement throughout the term will be required. Students’ grades will be based on both initiating discussions (posting questions or discussion topics) and facilitating discussions (answering peers’ questions and continuing discussions)
Quizzes are multiple choice and short answer, timed using universal design to accommodate students requiring extra time to complete assessments
Midterm/Final exams will be mixed format: multiple choice, short answer, and long answer questions. Exams will be open-book. I do not use Proctortrack or similar software for synchronous cheating detection. However, your answers must be your own. I will use offline tools (e.g., answer analysis, plagiarism detection software) to detect collaboration and other types of cheating.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
Due dates for all quizzes and assignments are provided on the course syllabus. Missing coursework requires appropriate documentation. Without appropriate documentation, you will receive a mark of zero. No make-up quizzes will be provided. With appropriate documentation for an excused absence, quiz grades will be re-weighted. Make-up exams for the midterm and final exams will be provided only if appropriate documentation has been approved. No make-up marks will be provided for the online participation component.
Make-up test format: students requiring a make-up examination will receive a different format exam from the original. These make-up exams cover a similar breadth and depth of the assigned material but using an alternative format such as essay questions. This is because we cannot assure exam confidentiality when tests are administered online.
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Weekly quizzes: There will be 11 weekly quizzes. Quizzes will be posted via OWL on Mondays, and will be due by the following Sunday, at 11:59pm.
Midterm: February 13 (online exam, via OWL)
Final exam: TBA (online exam, via OWL)
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
|
January 9 |
1 |
Introduction/Course Overview & The Study of Psycholinguistics Quiz #1 |
Chapter 1 |
|
January 16 |
2 |
The Origins of Human Language Quiz #2 |
Chapter 2 up to pg. 56 |
|
January 23 |
3 |
Language and the Brain Quiz #3 |
Chapter 3 |
|
January 30 |
4 |
Speech Perception Quiz #4 |
Chapter 7 |
|
February 6 |
5 |
Speech Production Quiz #5 |
Chapter 10, excluding section 10.4 (pg. 420-429) |
|
February 13 |
6 |
Midterm Covers lecture and reading materials from Weeks 1-5 |
|
|
February 20 |
7 |
Reading Week |
|
|
February 27 |
8 |
Morphology Part I Quiz #6 |
Chapter 5 |
|
March 6 |
9 |
Morphology Part II Quiz #7 |
Chapter 8; excluding section 8.4 (pg. 330-342) |
|
March 13 |
10 |
Syntax Part I Quiz #8 |
Chapter 6 |
|
March 20 |
11 |
Syntax Part II Quiz #9 |
Chapter 9 and section 10.4 (pg. 420-429) |
|
March 27 |
12 |
Reading Quiz #10 |
Chapter 8, only section 8.4 (pg. 330-342) Treiman (2000) |
|
April 3 |
13 |
Language and Technology Quiz #11 |
Online supplemental materials |
|
April 13-April 30 |
|
Final Exam Covers lecture and reading materials from Weeks 8-13 (*non-cumulative*) |
|
8.0 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.
With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.
9.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
10.0 POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE
If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. In the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf
* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
https://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation.
https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
12.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.
13.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
14.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
