Language and Mind

How does your brain detect words in the continuous stream of sound that is speech? Why are some people better at language games than others? Could a computer ever understand language? What can we learn about the mechanisms of speech production and comprehension from speech impairments? Being able to understand and produce language is arguably one of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience. Linguistics, the academic study of language allies with a wide variety of disciplines, from psychology to computer science, from philosophy to sociology to answer questions such as the ones posed above. Students in this module will focus on experimental and observational approaches to linguistics and psycholinguistics. The module is primarily recommended to students interested in linguistics, psychology, computer science and philosophy, while students with a broader interest in the natural and social sciences are also welcome to attend.