Psychology 2134B 650 FW23

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 

Summer 2023 

 

Psychology 2134B Section 650 

Psychology of Language 

 

 

  1. 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.  

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5 

 

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. 

 

 

2.0 COURSE INFORMATION 

 

Instructor: M. Maziyah Mohamed  

Office Hours: Virtual, by appointment only. 

Email: mmoha87@uwo.ca  

 

Teaching Assistant: TBA 

Office:  

Office Hours:  

Email:  

 

Time and Location of Classes: Course material for each week will be posted via OWL on Mondays (virtual/asynchronous)  

Delivery Method: Virtual 

 

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. 

 

2.1 Online Learning Notice: 
Please note: For courses delivered in an online format, include an online component, or are required to pivot online, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements. Some courses may also require the use of a remote proctoring platform to ensure assessments are taken fairly in accordance with Western’s policy on Scholastic Discipline for Undergraduate Students and Scholastic Discipline for Graduate Students. Please refer to the course syllabus for further information. 

 
 

3.0 TEXTBOOK 

 

Required text: Sedivy, J. (2020). Language in Mind: An introduction to psycholinguistics (2nd edition). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781605357058. 

 

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.  

  • Develop critical understanding of the key concepts, principles, and overarching themes related to psycholinguistics (e.g., compare and contrast language and communication, identify brain regions crucial for language functions, language comprehension and production). 

Textbook reading 

Video lectures 

Quizzes 

 

Midterm and Final Exams 

Knowledge of Methodologies.  

  • Describe research methods to assessing language comprehension and production. 

Textbook reading 

Video lectures 

Quizzes 

 

Midterm and Final Exams 

Application of Knowledge.  

  • Evaluate theories of language processing (e.g., reading, speech perception) 
  • Understand theoretical contributions to research and vice versa. 

Textbook reading 

Video lectures 

Quizzes 

 

Midterm and Final Exams 

Communication Skills.  

  • Participate in scholarly discussions using relevant evidence to support claims. 
  • Engage in thoughtful and respectful communication with peers. 

Forum discussion on OWL 

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 10% 

 

Weekly Quizzes (10) 20% (best 8 of 10 quiz scores, 2.5% each) 

 

Midterm Exam 30% 

 

Final Exam 40%  

 

Online Participation 

Online participation will involve forum discussions on OWL. Students’ grades will be based on both initiating discussions (posting questions or discussion topics) and facilitating discussions (answering peers’ questions and continuing discussions). Regular engagement and quality questions or responses throughout the term is required to receive the maximum participation grade. A good quality question or response should demonstrate critical thinking skills. 

 

Weekly Quizzes 

Weekly quizzes are meant as a knowledge check, to ensure that students keep up with the class material regularly. Quizzes are asynchronous on OWL and will be in multiple-choice format. Each quiz will consist of around 5 questions. You will be allowed 45 minutes to complete them, although they are designed to be completed in under 10 minutes. 

 

Midterm and Final Exam 

Exams will consist of multiple-choice, short answer, and long answer questions. Exam questions are based on both lecture materials and assigned readings. All exams will be online on OWL. All exams will be synchronous and proctoring software will be used to detect any form of cheating. 

 

 

5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK 

 

Due dates for all quizzes are provided on the course syllabus. You will receive a zero for any incomplete quizzes. There will be no make-up quizzes as each quiz is worth 2.5% of the final grade in the course. You may miss up to 2 without penalty (best 8 of 10 quiz scores will be included in the final grade). If you require a longer-term accommodation for a health or wellness concern lasting more than a week, please seek official accommodation by submitting your documentation to the academic counselling office in your home faculty. In these cases, the final quiz grade will be reweighted. 

Students requiring a make-up exam will receive a different exam from the original. These make-up exams cover a similar breadth and depth of the assigned material. Make-up exams will be provided only to students with official accommodations from their academic counsellor. Make-up exams will be scheduled at a time following the original exam date. 

 

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 (10): Each quiz will be posted on OWL on Mondays. All quizzes are due on Fridays of the same week at 11.55pm. There will be no quiz on the first week of class and on reading week. 

 

Midterm Exam: February 12 (synchronous via OWL). Time TBA. 

 

Final Exam: Scheduled during final exam period (synchronous via OWL). Date and time TBA. 

 

 

7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE 

 

 

Week  

Date 

Lecture 

Textbook Readings 

Assessments 

1 

January 8 

Course Overview & Introduction to Psycholinguistics 

Chapter 1 

 

2 

January 15 

Origins of Human Language 

Chapter 2 

Quiz 1 

3 

January 22  

Language and the Brain 

Chapter 3 

Quiz 2 

4 

January 29 

Speech Perception 

Chapter 7 

Quiz 3 

5 

February 5 

Speech Production 

Chapter 10 

Quiz 4 

6 

February 12 

 

 

MIDTERM EXAM: Covers lectures and assigned readings from Weeks 1 – 5 

7 

February 19 

READING WEEK 

8 

February 26 

Morphology I 

Chapter 5 

Quiz 5 

9 

March 4 

Morphology II 

Chapter 8 (excluding section 8.4) 

Quiz 6 

10 

March 11 

Syntax I 

Chapter 6 

Quiz 7 

11 

March 18 

Syntax II 

Chapter 9 

Quiz 8 

12 

March 25 

Reading 

Chapter 8 (section 8.4) 

Quiz 9 

13 

April 1 

Language Diversity 

Chapter 13 

Quiz 10 

14 

April 8 

NO CLASS 

15 

April 11 – April 30  

 

 

FINAL EXAM: Covers lectures and assigned readings from Weeks 8 – 13 

 

 

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 

Tests and examinations for online courses will be conducted using a remote proctoring service. By taking this course, you are consenting to the use of this software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded.  Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca. 
 

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. 
 

 

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:  

  1. 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;  
  1. 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 hours after 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  

 

Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html 

 

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.