This course provides a broad overview of theories and issues relevant to language acquisition. We will examine the process of language acquisition divided into discrete areas such as lexicon, syntax, and pragmatics as well as a unified process taking place in parent-child interaction. Through reading and discussion, we will consider how social as well as cognitive factors contribute to children’s language acquisition and development. The coursework will involve extensive reading and discussion as well as panel presentation.

CILO-1: Understand the content, stages, and processes of child language acquisition, as well as the paradigms and major theories that try to explain it. CILO-2: Critically evaluate literature on language acquisition. CILO-3: Analyze child language in the context of natually occurring interaction.