• Scientific Linguistic Foundations: Advanced understanding of language as a field of study, covering its scientific principles and cutting-edge research applications.
• Systems and Structures: Comprehensive knowledge of human and animal communication, including mastery of linguistic levels from phonetics to pragmatics.
• Cognition and Acquisition: Insights into the origin of language, its mental and neurological processing, and the mechanisms of multilingual development.
• Sociocultural Research: Proficiency in using Humanities research methods to analyze sociolinguistic variation and human diversity in multicultural contexts.

• Analytical and Research Mastery: Ability to interpret complex data and apply diverse research methods from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study human diversity.
• Practical Problem-Solving: Capacity to apply advanced, cutting-edge knowledge to resolve specific problems in professional, interdisciplinary, and multicultural settings.
• Critical Communication: Proficiency in conveying specialized ideas and solutions clearly to both expert and lay audiences, supported by ethical and critical reasoning.
• Autonomous Learning: Development of strong learning abilities to independently manage future studies and professional growth through holistic, theoretically-based training.

o    CB1. Acquire knowledge and understand concepts related to the field of study building on advanced textbooks on the subject. Apply cutting-edge knowledge in the field of study.
o    CB2. Apply knowledge to one’s own work or vocation in a professional way. Master essential skills and display them through development and defense of arguments and problem resolution in the field of study.
o    CB3. Collect and interpret relevant data in the field of study and make reflexive judgements on relevant topics.
o    CB4. Convey information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialists and non-specialized audience, either orally or in written form, in a clear and unambiguous way. CB5. Develop necessary learning abilities for conveying future studies in an autonomous way.
o    CG1. Develop full capacity for autonomous learning: holistic, theoretically based and with high degree of applicability.
o    CG3. Apply knowledge of different areas of study to resolution of specific problems in new or less-known settings within broader contexts (interdisciplinary, multicultural and/or international).
o    CG4. Know and apply different research methods, mainly in the area of Humanities and Social Sciences, in order to study human diversity in all dimensions.
o    CG5. Develop strong critical and ethical consciousness with regard to work, its theory, methods and results.
 

Topic 1. LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS

Topic 2. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: Human and animal communicative systems; Means of language (spoken, signed, and written symbols); Communicative competence and non-verbal communication.

Topic 3. LANGUAGE AND COGNITION: Origin of human language; Language in mind and brain; Language development and acquisition; Bilingualism and multilingualism.

Topic 4. LANGUAGE LEVELS: Phonetics and phonology; Morphology; Syntax; Lexicon and semantics; Pragmatics; Variation in language levels: sociolinguistics.

The proposed contents will be itemized into specific theoretical subjects and compulsory readings. Detailed syllabus will be handed in on the first day of the course.

BASIC REFERENCES:

ANDERSON, Catherine (2017): Essentials of Linguistics. Hamilton: McMaster University.

ESCANDELL VIDAL, M. Victoria et al. (2014): Claves del lenguaje humano. Madrid: Ramón Areces.

YULE, George (2006): The study of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

The subject includes compulsory reading of 3 scientific papers that will be provided at the beginning of the course. 

(I) HUMAN LANGUAGE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION

Benítez-Burraco, A. (2009). Genes y lenguaje. Aspectos ontogenéticos, filogenéticos y cognitivos. Reverté.

Benítez-Burraco, A. (2023). El origen del lenguaje. De Adán a Babel. Almuzara.

Benítez-Burraco, A. y Barceló-Coblijn, L. (2015). El origen del lenguaje. Síntesis.

Boeckx, C. y Benítez-Burraco, A. (2016). Components of the language-ready brain. Frontiers in Psychology. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/3624/components-of-the-language-ready-brain

(II) LANGUAGE STRUCTURE

Kracht, M. (2007). Introduction to Linguistics. UCLA.

Payne, T. E. (2006). Exploring language structure: a student’s guide. Cambridge University Press.

(III) LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Bialystok, E. (2001). Bilingualism in development: language, literacy, and cognition. Cambridge University Press.

Mariscal, S. (2014). Adquisición del lenguaje. Síntesis.

(IV) LANGUAGE IN MIND AND BRAIN

Costa, A. (2019). El cerebro bilingüe. Penguin.

Diéguez Vide, F. (2019). Neuroanatomía funcional del lenguaje. Síntesis.

Friederici, A. D. (2017). Language in our brain; the origin of a uniquely human capacity. MIT Press.

Pinker, S. (2010). The language instinct: how the mind creates language. Harper Collins.

(V) GENERAL QUESTIONS

Gutiérrez-Rexach, J. (2016). Enciclopedia de lingüística hispánica. Routledge.

1. Global written exam (50 %)

2. Group presentation (15 %)

3. Individual work (10 %)

4. Seminars / readings (20 %)

5. Class Participation (5 %)

• Evaluation of practical tasks in the classroom
• Evaluation of problem resolution and tasks conducted autonomously by the student
• Evaluation of group work
• Evaluation of active participation in the classroom and in the seminars
• Evaluation of written exam, in both theoretical and practical parts. Taking the written examen and achieving at least 5/10 in it is compulsory for passing the subject

Class attendance and classroom active participation will be valued with 6% of the global score.

Delays in handing practices won’t be accepted without a doctor’s note or other official document.

General questions

Assessment and evaluation revolve around four tasks:

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of the field of study / subject (CG1, CG3, CG4, CG5, CE1, CE2, CE3, CE4, CE5, CE6, CE7, CE8, CE9, CE10, CE11, CT1)
• Compulsory readings and seminars (CG3, CG4, CG5, CE4, CE5, CE7, CE8, CE10, CE11, CT1)
• Group work (CG2, CG3, CG4, CG6, CG7, CE4, CE5, CE7, CE8, CE10, CE11, CT1, CT2, CT3)
• Individual work (CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG6, CG7, CT1, CT3)

Compensation and recovery:

• written exam (it is compulsory to take the exam and to achieve at least 5/10 in it for passing the subject)
• revision of group work during the course
• revision of individual work during the course

Rating consideration is the same as described in criteria, tools and methods of evaluation.