9.56J | Fall 2004 | Undergraduate

Abnormal Language

Course Description

Introduction to the linguistic study of language pathology, concentrating on experimental approaches and theoretical explanations. Discussion of Specific Language Impairment, autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, normal aging, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hemispherectomy and aphasia. Focuses on the …
Introduction to the linguistic study of language pathology, concentrating on experimental approaches and theoretical explanations. Discussion of Specific Language Impairment, autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, normal aging, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hemispherectomy and aphasia. Focuses on the comparison of linguistic abilities among these syndromes, while drawing clear comparisons with first and second language acquisition. Topics include the lexicon, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Relates the lost linguistic abilities in these syndromes to properties of the brain.
Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments
Problem Sets
The Tower of Babel, Bruegel.
The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. (Image courtesy of the WebMuseum Web site. Photographs of Bruegel works in WebMuseum by Mark Harden and Carol Gerten-Jackson.)