This course introduces students to the "cognitive revolution" and its impact on the contemporary study of language. We review the shift away from seeing speech behavior or "languages" as the object of inquiry to the experimental and theoretical study of the cognitive mechanisms underlying our unique human capacity for language, the exercise of which permeates virtually every aspect of human life, including what you are now doing! In every household, all of the children, barring pathology - but none of the dogs, cats or other organisms (nor the inanimate objects!) - acquire the language spoken or signed by the adults. There is some biological property of humans that makes this feat possible. What do we know when we know a language, and what does it mean to say that humans have an innate capacity for language?

Class Format:

Waitlist Procedures
Students are admitted from the waitlist in order of registration, and overrides will be issued by Linguistics Department staff when spots in the class open. Discussion sections are strictly capped at 25 and cannot be over-enrolled. If you have any questions about the waitlist, please email linguistics-ssc@umich.edu.