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COSD 425: Later Language Development

Credit Hours: (3)

A study of spoken and written language development during the school years and into adulthood.  

Detailed Description of Course

This course examines the interwoven development of spoken and written language during later childhood and adolescence and changes in language in the adult years. Topics to be covered include

a. Language and Literacy in the school years

• Peer and social interaction
• Decontextualized language
• Metalinguistic skills
• The development of reading
• The development of writing
• The development of spelling
• Cultural and Linguistic variations in language development

b. Language acquisition in Adolescence

• Semantic development

   

  1. Word finding
  2. Word definitions
  3. Figurative language

   

• Syntactic attainments
• Pragmatics:

   

  1. Conversation
  2. Narration
  3. Expository Discourse

   

• Cultural and Linguistic variations in Adolescence

c. Language Changes in Adulthood

• Semantics
• Pragmatics

   

  1. Registers
  2. Gender differences
  3. Language at Work

   

• Cultural and Linguistic variations in Discourse
• Changes with Advanced Age  

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course  

This course is a writing and reading intensive course designed to provide students with increased understanding of the profound metalinguistic changes that occur in the process of normal language development in the school years and beyond. In addition to traditional didactic lessons led by the instructor, students will explore aspects of language development by examining their own conversations and interactions, analyzing written artifacts, writing observations of language use in various social and academic contexts, and summarizing and paraphrasing research in language acquisition. The semester long preparation of a research paper will give students the opportunity to study their personal written language development and different approaches to improving written language.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to

 

1. demonstrate understanding of the development of spoken and written language beyond childhood
2. describe the relationship between spoken and written language
3. demonstrate an understanding of cultural and linguistic differences in language acquisition, including differences related to second language learning
4. identify the metalinguistic skills necessary for reading and writing in an alphabetic language
5. identify the changes in language form, content, and use that occur throughout normal adolescence
6. describe changes in language that occur in adulthood
7. compare and contrast cultural differences in language use in adulthood
8. produce a research paper that emerges from her or his own applied study of the writing process.  

Assessment Measures

Student performance will be assessed on a variety of tasks, including traditional essay and objectives examinations that cover readings and lecture material. In addition, students may complete informal and formal analyses of spoken and written language samples, written observations of language use in various social and academic contexts, content analyses of language use in different media, and summarizing and paraphrasing research in language acquisition. Student performance on different stages of completing a research paper, along with the finished product, will also be assessed.

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval
January 2003 Renumber course to COSD 425. Approved by Raymond Linville, Chair