Child Language Acquisition (LING6521) is important for anyone who wants to understand how children acquire language. It is an introductory course designed to enable students to acquire an understanding of the process of language acquisition, including how children learn words, learn sounds and learn how to construct grammatically correct sentences. It provides students with the basic skills for carrying out child language acquisition research. Issues covered include collecting, describing and interpreting children's data and reporting research findings. Students will be given an opportunity to analyse some data from a child who is in the process of learning language.

This course is compulsory for graduate students who wish to undertake further research (thesis or sub-thesis) in the area of child language acquisition research. It is recommended for graduate students who wish to undertake further research in applied linguistics. Students should consult with the convenor of Applied Linguistics or their potential supervisor as to whether or not they are required to take the course.

On satisfying the expectations of the course, you should be able to

1. Assess the level of language ability for a young child by listening to naturally occurring examples of young children talking.
2. Explain, and argue for, how children learn their first language in terms of phonology, morphosyntax, semantics, interaction and caretaker's input.
3. Critically evaluate various language acquisition theories.
4. Think about, write and present an argument using evidence and results from previous child language research.

Assessment consists of a critical reading assignment (25%), a theoretical essay (30%), and a data analysis assignment (45%) due in the exam period. Passing of the course is conditional on students passing all assessment items.

This course has 3 contact hours per week (lectures and tutorials). Students are also expected to attend seminars within the linguistics and applied linguistics program.

In addition to the required contact hours (lectures, tutorials and seminars) it is expected that students will spend an additional 8-10 hours per week on this course.

This course introduces graduate students to child language acquisition. Students will need to have some understanding of linguistics (particularly an understanding of phonetics and syntax) before enrolling in this course.

Students must have completed Introduction to the Study of Language (LING6001) (or its equivalent) before taking this course. There are no courses that must be taken concurrently with this course.

Gleason, J. B. (ed) (2009) The Development of Language. 7^th Edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Wardhaugh, Ronald (1993) How do we learn a language Investigating Language: Central Problems in Linguistics, Basil Blackwell: Oxford.

O'Grady (2005) How Children Learn Language. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.

Students will be given a full reading list at the beginning of the semester. Journals that publish child language acquisition research include, First Language, Journal of Child Language, Language Acquisition, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour.

Other than normal internet access to Wattle, no special equipment is required to access materials to complete the course.

This class is co-taught with undergraduate students LING3021. However, LING6521 students have additional tutorials.