nireEHU 
Subject
Research Seminar in Language Processing
General details of the subject
- Mode
- Face-to-face degree course
- Language
- English
Description and contextualization of the subject
This course is aimed at students who are especially interested in language processing mechanisms.How do we process language? This research seminar aims at providing experimental evidence on the mechanisms and strategies used during language processing. More specifically, we will focus on how monolingual and bilingual speakers process different aspects of language (words vs. sentences; syntax, semantics, morphology…). We will also have a look at the factors the second language (L2) processing is influenced by (i.e. Age of Acquisition, proficiency level, linguistics distance... etc.) and we will also discuss some implications of bilingualism in cognition (so-called "bilingual advantage").
The seminar will have a strong focus on research methods, and aims to provide students with some of the conceptual and empirical knowledge necessary to understand and critically evaluate scientific claims, ideas and observations about language processing.
Teaching staff
| Name | Institution | Category | Doctor | Teaching profile | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZAWISZEWSKI , ADAM | University of the Basque Country | Profesorado Agregado | Doctor | Bilingual | General Linguistics | adam.zawiszewski@ehu.eus |
Competencies
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Comprender las motivaciones de los diferentes resultados obtenidos en la investigación sobre el procesamiento del lenguaje. | 25.0 % |
| Ser capaz de construir hipótesis nuevas a partir de la comparación e interpretación crítica de hipótesis ya existentes. | 25.0 % |
| Detectar cuestiones de interés a investigar mediante métodos psicolingüísticos. | 25.0 % |
| Diseñar posibles estudios para responder cuestiones concretas de interés en el campo. | 25.0 % |
Study types
| Type | Face-to-face hours | Non face-to-face hours | Total hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture-based | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Applied classroom-based groups | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Applied laboratory-based groups | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Applied computer-based groups | 0 | 45 | 45 |
Training activities
| Name | Hours | Percentage of classroom teaching |
|---|---|---|
| Case studies | 5.0 | 100 % |
| Expositive classes | 15.0 | 100 % |
| Group discussion | 5.0 | 100 % |
| Handling experimental equipment and facilities | 5.0 | 100 % |
| Student's personal work | 45.0 | 0 % |
Assessment systems
| Name | Minimum weighting | Maximum weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance and participation | 30.0 % | 60.0 % |
| Continuous evaluation | 40.0 % | 70.0 % |
Ordinary call: orientations and renunciation
The evaluation is based on the following criteria:(1) Class presentation (50% of the grade)
Your presentation has to contain:
• research question(s)
• brief state of the art
• methods
• results
• conclusions
Your presentation should last no longer than 8-10 minutes. Be concise and clear and do not use overloaded slides.
(2) Article commentary (50% of the grade)
Things to be explicitly taken into account:
• Mention the specific research question tested in the paper.
• Summarize the method used in the study.
• Taking into account the research question, outline the conclusions made by the authors. Are the conclusions supported by the data? Why (not)?
***Disclaimer***
This evaluation system is designed for face-to-face teaching and will be adapted in the event that we enter a new state of health emergency and have to go to virtual teaching. In this case, the updated version of the program and the new evaluation system will be posted in the Egela virtual classroom.
Ebaluazio sistema hau aurrez-aurreko eskoletarako dago pentsatua eta egokitu egingo da larrialdi egoera berririk sortuko balitz. Kasu horretan, irakasleak EGELAn zintzilikatuko du irakasgaiaren programa eguneratua eta ebaluazio sistema berria.
Este sistema de evaluación está diseñado para la docencia presencial y será adaptada en el caso de que entremos en un nuevo estado de emergencia sanitaria y tengamos que pasar a docencia virtual. En tal caso, se colgará en el aula virtual Egela la versión actualizada del programa y el nuevo sistema de evaluación.
Extraordinary call: orientations and renunciation
A written exam (100% of the grade).Temary
- Introduction to language processing: words.- Introduction to language processing: sentences.
- Research methods in language processing.
- Processing syntax, morphology and semantics.
- Language processing in bilingual speakers.
- Bilingual advantage: fact or myth?
Bibliography
Compulsory materials
Warren, P. (2013). Introducing Psycholinguistics. New York: Cambridge University Press.Basic bibliography
Traxler, M. (2011). Introduction to Psycholinguistics: Understanding Language Science. Wiley.In-depth bibliography
Gaskell, G. & Alltman, G. (Eds.). (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Psycholinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Harley, T. (2008). The Psychology of Language. From Data to Theory. New York: Psychology Press.
Sedivy, J. (2014). Language in Mind: An introduction to Psycholinguistics. Massachusets: Sinauer Associates.
Journals
Journal of Memory and LanguageBrain and Language
Language, Cognition and Neuroscience
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
Frontiers in Psychology
Memory and Language
Applied Psycholinguistics
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Cognition
Links
Free (psycholinguistics) software- Linger: https://tedlab.mit.edu/~dr/Linger/
- Dmdx: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~kforster/dmdx/dmdx.htm
- Praat: https://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/
- Mbrola: https://github.com/numediart/MBROLA
Research groups:
- Aholab: https://aholab.ehu.eus/aholab/
- Speech Production and Bilingualism (UPF): https://www.upf.edu/web/spb
- Speech Acquisition and Perception Lab (UPF): https://www.upf.edu/web/sap
- Language and Comparative Cognition (UPV): https://www.upf.edu/web/lcc