Bilingualism, Language and the Brain

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Bilingualism, Language and the Brain (PSY360)

Applications Open: To be confirmed

Applications Close: To be confirmed

Next Available Intake: To be confirmed

Course Types: To be confirmed

Language: English

Duration: 6 months

Fees: To be confirmed

Area of Interest: Humanities and Social Sciences

Schemes: To be confirmed

Funding: To be confirmed

School/Department: School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences

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Synopsis

In this course, students explore how language experience affects the way we think and represent information. There will be a focus on topics in bilingualism, such as cross-linguistic and cross-cultural effects on thought, and the content will build upon cognitive concepts. Students will reflect in detail about the multidimensional nature of bilingualism, and how bilingual speakers can differ greatly on factors such as age of acquisition, proficiency and switching behaviour. The course will also cover key debates in bilingualism research, such as the presumed advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism in cognition, and effects of linguistic distance (i.e. extent of similarity between languages) on bilingual language processing.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January

Topics

Language and how we think
Cross-linguistic and cross-cultural effects on thought
Bilingual language acquisition
Bilingualism factors
Cross-linguistic effects in language processing
Bilingual language control
Bilingualism and cognitive control
The bilingualism debate
Codeswitching
Bilingual language representation
How is bilingualism defined?
Evaluating bilingualism research

Learning Outcome

Examine factors of bilingualism in language acquisition and language usage.
Illustrate the influence of bilingualism on cognitive processes.
Judge the real-life implications of bilingualism in areas such as emotion, learning and decision making.
Question how bilingualism is measured and defined across different research studies.
Apply bilingualism/language concepts and findings to everyday contexts.
Evaluate the relevance of research findings across different language environments or cultural conttexts.