Course Syllabus 

Course Overview (by Dr. Davidson)

At a simple level, this course is about how children develop language. Language refers to the symbolic representation we use to communicate about the world around us. In order for children to be successful communicators, they must develop a complex system that integrates language (phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics) with one or several transmission modalities (e.g., speech, sign, writing, facial expressions, gesture). There sure is a lot to learn for developing children (and you)!

We will view language development through the lens of speech-language pathology. Our primary goal is to understand the foundations of typical language development and how all aspects of development integrate in order to inform our future understanding of language and developmental disorders. With a strong foundation in typical language development as well as general development, we will be better able to pinpoint if a disorder is present and determine the course of treatment.

Course Objectives

By the end of this class, students enrolled in SPLH 566 should be able to:

1.  Compare and contrast differing theoretical models of language acquisition and the evidence associated with them.

2. Describe the typical developmental sequence of first language acquisition in terms of phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics.

3.  Make coherent written observations about the language and communication abilities of children.

4. Describe differences between first and second language acquisition and other cultural influences on language development.

5. Recognize early markers of a language disorder.

6.  Critically assess popular information on child language development.

Course Textbook

Owens Jr., R.E. (2020). Language Development: An Introduction, 10th Edition. Boston: Pearson. ISBN 13: 9780135206485