Advanced issues in cognitive science and linguistics

Goals

The course aims at analyzing the relation between linguistic, logical and numerical abilities - both in children and adults – and the neural mechanisms involved in their processing.
At the end of the course the student has acquired: (i) the ability to analyze semantic phenomena which are fundamental for linguistic and cognitive theory; (ii) an overview of the main studies on the interpretation, the processing and the acquisition of logical operators; (iii) the ability to navigate the current debate on the topics discussed and to critically assess arguments for and against different positions.

Course plan

1. An introduction  (theoretical and psycholinguistic) to the course by Yosef Grodzinsky (given by Elena Pagliarini)

2. A course taught by Yosef Grodzinsky

Assessment

The evaluation will consist on two brief assignments (one during the course and one at the end of the course). Attendance to the course by Prof. Grodzinsky is mandatory and participation in class will also be taken into account for the purposes of evaluation.

Re-evaluation

Re-evaluation will be possible for those students that have obtained a final grade between 3 and 4.9. This students can opt to re-evaluation by taking a second examination. The maximum grade that can be obtained is 5.

Examination-based assessment

Under exceptional and justified circumstances a single examination (100% of the grade) can be scheduled. Re-evaluation of this assessment can only be considered for students having failed with marks ranging from 3 to 4.9. The maximum final mark can only be 5.

Bibliography

Books

Chierchia, G. (2013). Logic in Grammar: Polarity, Free Choice, and Intervention. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199697977.001.0001

Traxler, M. J. (2011). Introduction to psycholinguistics: Understanding language science. Wiley-Blackwell

Articles

Grodzinsky, Y., Deschamps, I., Pieperhoff, P., Iannilli, F., Agmon, G., Loewenstein, Y., & Amunts, K. (2020). Logical negation mapped onto the brain. Brain Structure and Function, 225, 19-31.

Tan, I-A., Kugler-Etinger, N. Grodzinsk, Y. (in press) Do two negatives make a positive? Language and logic in language. Language, Cognition & Neuroscience.

Tan, I.A, Segal, N. , Grodzinsky, Y. (to be submitted). The domains of monotonicity processing.

Relevant bibliography will be provided at the beggining of the course.