Language as a Complex Adaptive System - Nick Ellis, Psych 808-007 Winter 2009, University of Michigan

(Special topic seminar) Psych 808-007  Winter 2009

Instructor: Prof. Nick Ellis (ncellis@umich.edu <mailto:ncellis@umich.edu>)

Offices English Language Institute, Rm 1011, 500 E. Washington Street.

Times: 10:00-11:30 TuTh          
We consider Language as a Complex Adaptive System. Recent research across a variety of disciplines in the cognitive sciences has demonstrated that patterns of use determine how language is acquired, is structured, is processed, and changes over time. However, there is mounting evidence that processes of language acquisition, use and change are not independent from one another but are facets of the same complex adaptive system. A conference on this theme at UMich in November 2008 brought together international scholars active in their recognition of complexity in their respective areas, ranging from language usage, structure, and change, sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, anthropology, language evolution, complex systems, first language acquisition, second language acquisition, psycholinguistics and language processing, language education, individual differences, and language testing. For details see http://elicorpora.info/LLC.

Each week as a class we (i) view the podcast recording of their presentation, (ii) read their associated journal article, and (iii) discuss this theme.

This course crosses different branches of psychology, linguistics, education, complex systems, and cognitive science, and we welcome students of these and related perspectives.

Students will be expected to read and participate in the discussion of all topics, write a term paper on one of these topics discussed with the instructor (either a literature review or a research proposal with some pilot work), and present the work from their term paper at the end of the course.

Readings and resources:

Podcast recordings of the presentations (see http://elicorpora.info/LLC/schedule) <http://elicorpora.info/LLC/schedule%29>, electronically distributed papers being finalized for a Language Learning special issue on this theme.

Nick Ellis
Professor of Psychology
Research Scientist, English Language Institute
University of Michigan
Rm. 1011, 500 East Washington Street
Ann Arbor
MI 48104-2028
USA

e-mail: ncellis@umich.edu <mailto:ncellis@umich.edu>
home:   Ellis
work 734-647-0454
work fax 734-763-0369