Class Language and Cognition

The course unit Language and Cognition explores the relationship between language, thought and cognitive processes, promoting an interdisciplinary understanding of language as a fundamental human capacity. As part of the BA in Portuguese Studies, this unit addresses key topics in cognitive science and linguistics, reflecting on how language contributes to perception, categorisation, memory, learning and knowledge construction. Through a contemporary and critical perspective, students analyse different theoretical approaches to the functioning of the mind and language, developing skills in the analysis and reflection of communicative and cognitive processes. The unit contributes to a broader understanding of language as a tool for communication, cultural expression and the mediation of human experience in different social and cultural contexts.

Not applicable

- Language and Cognition: definition - The relationship between language and thought: ontogenetic perspective - Mental representation of language - Language and knowledge construction: the place of language practices - The cognitive bases of language acquisition and development - Neurobiological models of language processing

Not applicable.

Bronckart, J-P. (2007). Desarollo del Lenguaje y Didactica de las Lenguas. Miño Y Dávila. Hagoort, P. (2023). The language marker hypothesis. Cognition, 230, 105252. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105252. Hagoort, P. (Ed.). (2019). Human Language: from genes and brains to behavior. MIT Press. Hagoort, P. (2013). MUC (Memory, Unification, Control) and beyond. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. Article 416 Hasson, U., Ghazanfar, A. A., Galantucci, B., Garrod, S., & Keysers, C. (2012). Brain-to-brain coupling: a mechanism for creating and sharing a social world. Trends in cognitive sciences, 16(2), 114-121. Jackendoff, R. (2019). Mental representations for language. In P. Hagoort (Ed.). Human Language: from genes and brains to behavior. (pp 7-).  MIT Press. Silva, A. S., Torres, A., Gonçalves, M. (2004). Linguagem, Cultura e Cognição Vol I. Edições Almedina.  Vygotsky, L. S. (1962). Thought and Language, The MIT Press.