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In this introductory course, we will explore the development of language in the individual and well as the evolution of the language capacity at the species level. In turn, we will consider how a first language is acquired and the characteristic stages that children of all language backgrounds pass through on their way to mastery; the biological and genetic basis of language in humans; and the cognitive processes involved in language acquisition, comprehension, and production. We will then look at language and communication in other species (apes and birds) and consider their accomplishments in light of human language. Finally, we will examine several proposals for the origin and evolution of human language, the diversity and distribution of languages, and language extinction.
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