Theory of Mind and the Development of Language
AS.050.235.13
Instructor: Dr. Anne Tamm
Tel.: 240-392-0666
Email: [email protected]
Office hours:
Wednesday after meeting times
Office: Krieger 245
Credits: 1
Distribution: N S
Meeting times: 1-2:30, 1/5-1/22
Mon, Wed, Thu
Location: Krieger 111
Course website:
theoryofmindjhu.wordpress.com
Description
The course offers an overview of recent research on language and social cognition. It
focuses on Theory of Mind (ToM) and the development of language. Theory of Mind is
the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others and to understand that others
have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own. The development
of human language is closely related to the development of Theory of Mind.
Goals
-
Better understand how we mindread and how it is related to language(s)
Appreciate the variety of languages, written or spoken by adults or children – and
the various ways they depend on Theory of Mind
Grading
This course is graded pass/fail, and your grade will be broken down as follows:
‐ Attendance/participation – 20%
‐ Posts – 20%
‐ Project – 60% Attendance
It is important to attend each class, and your attendance will be reflected in your grade. Posts
There will be at least six prompts provided, and you must respond to at least three by
posting a short unique response on the course website/Blackboard discussion board. The
purpose of these posts is to help you prepare for class and to apply what you have
learned.
Project
Throughout the class you will be discovering the ways mindreading enters language and
evaluating it with respect to topics discussed in class. Students are expected to give a
short presentation on the last day of class. Readings/resources
Readings and other resources relevant to the topics being discussed will be provided.
They are intended to help you understand the presented material and to facilitate your
postings and project preparation. They are not “required”, but do consult them to the
extent to which you find them useful or interesting.
Schedule
Date
1/5
1/7
1/8
Topics
What is Theory of Mind (ToM)? Current
approaches to ToM
Can animals mindread?
1/21
When and how do humans learn to
mindread? Developmental perspectives
on ToM research
When and how do humans learn to
speak? Developmental perspectives on
language acquisition
Does our language depend on our ability
to mindread? Aspects of language that
require advanced ToM.
Do we “read minds” differently if we
speak different languages? Linguistic
relativity and ToM
Do children with special grammar learn
to mindread earlier? The developmental
aspects of evidentiality and ToM crosslinguistically.
Case studies and student presentations.
1/22
Case studies and student presentations.
1/12
1/14
1/15
1/19
To be updated.
Readings due
Project due
Theory of
Mind
Human ToM
Part I
Language
Language and
ToM
Part II
Sapir-Whorf
Evidentials
Your
Language
Part III