After successful completion of the course, students are expected:

On the level of knowledge:

• To recognize the role of language in the overall psychological development of the child
• To discuss the basic theoretical and methodological issues in the scientific field of language development
• To describe the stages, processes and milestones of language development by linguistic level of analysis (phonology, morphology, etc.) from early life to adolescence
• To rudimentarily sketch the language development of bi/multilingual children
• To rudimentarily sketch atypical language development 

On the level of skills:

• To identify, describe and explain various types of language errors that all children make during language acquisition
• To match the characteristics of children's speech with age

On the level of abilities:

• To better understand, by synthesizing information, the disorders of language development during their studies as well as after completion thereof when studying the relevant literature as well as in clinical practice
• To exploit the theoretical knowledge about typical language development in the future in the description, diagnosis and treatment of problems related to language communication skills

• Ability to apply knowledge to practice
• Adapting to new situations
• Criticism and self-criticism
• Decision-making
• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking
• Respect for difference and multiculturalism
• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology
• Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues
• Working independently 

Short Course Description: The aim of the course is to familiarize students with typical language development so that they can then better understand various non-typical forms of language development. First, concepts necessary for the description of language ontogenesis are presented. Second, its various parameters (biological, social, cognitive) as well as the theoretical and methodological issues concerning the relevant scientific field are discussed. A systematic overview of the development of various language and communication skills in the mother tongue during infancy, childhood and adolescence follows. The course concludes with a brief reference to the language development in bi/multilingual children and a preliminary reference to disordered language development, topics that are extensively covered in other courses in the curriculum.

The content of the course is structured as follows:

• Background concepts: language, speech, communication, levels of linguistic analysis, properties that define human languages (Section 1)
• Introduction to the scientific subject of language development (Section 2)
• Theoretical approaches to and research methods in language development (Section 3)
• The pre-linguistic period (Section 4)
• The development of language abilities, including phonology (language sounds), grammar (morphology and syntax) and semantics (vocabulary mainly), with an emphasis on the first years of life until the end of preschool age (Sections 5-9)
• The development of communicative abilities (mainly, conversational and narrative abilities) from early life to adolescence (Sections 10 and 11)
• Language development in bi/multilingual children and special populations (Section 12)
• Recapitulation (Section 13)

Final written exam based on open-ended questions, short-answer questions and/or multiple choice questionnaires (including true/false questions). 

Language of evaluation: Greek and, for Erasmus students, English

Specifically-defined evaluation criteria become available via e-Class.

- Readings:

• Hoff, E. (2020). Language development (Eds. M. Martzoukou & D. Papadopoulou. Trans. S. Argyropoulos). Broken Hill Publishers. [in Greek]
• Jean Berko, G., & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2024). The development of language (Ed. G. I. Xydopoulos. Trans. S. Bobolas). Patakis. [in Greek]
• Motsiou, E. (2023). An introduction to language development (3rd edn.). University Studio Press. [in Greek]
• Ralli, A. M. (2019). Language development: Infancy, childhood and adolescence. Gutenberg. [in Greek]

- Suggested bibliography (books):

• Clark, E. V. (2009). First language acquisition (2nd edn.). Cambridge University Press.
• Hoff, E. (2014). Language development (5th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Hoff, E., & Shatz, M. (Eds.). (2007). Blackwell handbook of language development. Blackwell.
• Kail, M. (2019). The acquisition of language (Ed. K. Diakogiorgi. Trans. A. Stathaki). Gutenberg. [in Greek]
• Kati, D. (2009). Language and communication in the child (4th edn.). Odysseas. [in Greek]
• Lust, B. C., & C. Foley (Eds.). (2004). First language acquisition: The essential readings. Blackwell.
• Nikolopoulos, D. (Ed.). (2008). Language development and disorders. Topos. [in Greek]
• Owens, R. E. (2008). Language development: An introduction (7th edn.). Pearson.
• Papaeliou, C. F. (2005). Language development: Theoretical approaches and research data from standard and deviant language behavior. Papazisis. [in Greek]

- Suggested bibliography (articles):

• Kati, D. (2001a). Language acquisition. In A.-Ph. Christidis (Ed. in collaboration with M. Theodoropoulou), Encyclopedic guide to language (pp. 27-30). Centre for the Greek Language. [in Greek]
• Kati, D. (2001b). Language development. In A.-Ph. Christidis (Ed.), A history of Ancient Greek: From the beginnings to late antiquity (pp. 94-101). Centre for the Greek Language & Institute of Modern Greek Studies [M. Triandafyllidis Foundation]. [in Greek]
• Kati, D. (2008). Language development: Theory, research and clinical implications. In G. Tsiantis & A. Alexandridis (Eds.), The psychiatry of preschoolers I: Development (pp. 198-240). Kastaniotis. [in Greek]

- Related academic journals:

• First Language
• Journal of Child Language
• Language Acquisition
• Language, Interaction and Acquisition/Langage, Interaction et Acquisition
• Language Learningg
• Language Learning and Development

- Useful links:

• Open Academic Course: Kati, D. Language Development. Retrieved Saturday, 20 July 2024 from https://opencourses.uoa.gr/courses/ECD4/ [in Greek]
• Child Language Data Exchange System: https://childes.talkbank.org/
• Greek Children Spoken Language Corpus: http://gcsl.ece.uth.gr/?fbclid=IwAR3KNC0hq_im6AVZB5arNlQtRRoJSgj93G2-dUdwyOAumVReG0oRAWayPJo

https://eclass.uop.gr/courses/2015/