Language Development in the First Few Years of Life
PSY 1617
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
How do infants first learn the sounds that make up their native language? By what process do babies begin to understand and assign meaning to words? What allows young children to intuitively grasp the complex rules of grammar? This course will explore these questions and more as we delve into the fascinating research on one of the fundamentally unique abilities of our species: learning language. Since young children understand more than they can say, we will also cover how researchers figure out what kids know, based on naturalistic recordings and short in-lab experiments. For psychology concentrators and students on the Cognitive Science track of affiliated departments under the Mind Brain Behavior initiative, this discussion-based seminar offers an in-depth examination of the complex yet foundational processes by which we master our very first forms of communication.
Recommended Prep
The Psychology Department requires completion of Science of Living Systems 20 or Psychology 1 or the equivalent of introductory psychology (e.g. Psych AP=5 or IB =7 or Psyc S-1) and at least one foundational course from MCB/NEURO 80, PSY 11, PSY 14, PSY 15, PSY 16, or PSY 18 before enrolling in this course; or permission of instructor.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
