NORMAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT / LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

SPAU 3303-001 / COMD 6307-001

T 2:00- 4:45, GR 4.428
Spring 2005

Instructor: Ariela Jokel, M.S., CCC/SLP

ariela@utdallas.edu
Office: GR 4.802 (972-883-2241); CR 1.534 (972-883-3604)
Office hours: Tuesdays 12:30-2:00 and by appointment.

T.A.: Lizze Littlewood

lizze@student.utdallas.edu
Office: CR 1.534 (972-883-3604)

Course Description: This course provides an overview of language development, focusing on

theories, experimental findings and milestones in typically developing children. Assigned readings
come from the text listed below. Students are encouraged to be active participants in class discussions.

PLEASE DO THE READINGS BEFORE COMING TO CLASS. Lecture outlines and announcements
will be placed on Blackboard weekly: http://blackboard.utdallas.edu

Required Text:

Hoff, E. (2005). Language Development (3rd Edition), Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Course Requirements and Grading:

• Three exams will be given throughout the semester.
• Exams will cover assigned readings, class lectures, discussions and movies.
• Exams will consist of short answer, multiple choice, true-false, and essay questions.
• Students taking this class for graduate credit will be required to collect and analyze a language
sample of a typically developing toddler. Further details about the project will be provided in
class and on Blackboard.
• Regular attendance is required to do well in the course and will be considered in the evaluation
of each student.
• Grading scale:
Undergraduate: (+/- scale):
Exam I: 30%; Exam II: 35%; Exam III: 35%
Graduates:
Exam I: 30%; Exam II: 30%; Exam III: 30%; Language Sample Analysis: 10%

In case of emergency or illness, you are to notify the instructor before the scheduled exam.

Scholastic Dishonesty: All students are required to adhere to the highest standards of academic
honesty. Refer to http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html for further information.

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 NORMAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT / LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
SPAU 3303-001 / COMD 6307-001
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2005

Date Topic Readings

Jan. 11 Introduction and Course Information Ch. 1 (pp. 1-7)
Overview- What is Language?
The structure of Language
Movie- Baby Talk/discussion

18 Theories of Language Development Ch. 1 (pp. 7-24; 231-236)

25 Biological Bases Ch. 2

Methods in Child Language/Early Comm. Ch. 1 (pp. 24- 33; 97-120)

Feb. 1 Phonological Development Ch. 3 (pp. 90-97; 120-136)

8 Exam I
Movie- Language and Cognition/discussion

15 Semantic-Lexical Development Ch. 4

22 Semantic-Lexical Development (cont.)

Morphology & Syntax (Grammar) Ch. 5

Mar. 1 Morphology & Syntax (Grammar) Ch. 5

Movie- Koko/discussion

8 Spring Break!

15 Pragmatics and Sociolinguistics Ch. 6

22 Exam II
Movie- Secret of the Wild Child/discussion

29 Language in Childhood Ch. 9 (pp. 365-393)

Bilingualism Ch. 8
Graduate Student Projects Due

Apr. 5 Literacy Ch. 9 (pp. 393-409)

Language Based Learning Disabilities

12 Special Populations Ch. 7

19 EXAM III