PHYSCI 175
Why Fido Can't Speak: Biological Evolution of Language
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: course 111A or Neuroscience M101A. "Homo sapiens" are only species currently on planet to possess language. Exploration of whether other species possess potential building blocks for language. Topics range from examination of how bees and ants signal about food sources to whether structured songs of birds, whales, and monkeys contain compositional meaning. Topics intersect with those in fields of anthropology, biopsychology, linguistics, molecular genetics, neuroscience, and physiology. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - Overall, I had really high expectations going into this class as it was one of the most interesting sounding electives. I won't say it let me down, but it was not as great as I wanted it to be. The material was not too difficult, but I was just surprised at how the field of linguistics and physiology merge, and there isn't too much empirical data. On top of that, the professor was fine but her powerpoints were a little all over the place, not well made and material didn't integrate well together. That being said, the class is graded on participation, three quizzes, a midterm and a non-cumulative final. There is also a "Mythbusters" presentation that you do one in discussion that is pretty fun. They are recorded for other discussion sections to view as a question from them will be on the midterms. As long as you do the few readings there are, review slides and put effort into your presentation (follow the guidelines they post) you will be fine. I messed up on one quiz, and even just that small mistake jeopardized my grade but I was able to recover by doing well on the final.
Winter 2023 - Overall, I had really high expectations going into this class as it was one of the most interesting sounding electives. I won't say it let me down, but it was not as great as I wanted it to be. The material was not too difficult, but I was just surprised at how the field of linguistics and physiology merge, and there isn't too much empirical data. On top of that, the professor was fine but her powerpoints were a little all over the place, not well made and material didn't integrate well together. That being said, the class is graded on participation, three quizzes, a midterm and a non-cumulative final. There is also a "Mythbusters" presentation that you do one in discussion that is pretty fun. They are recorded for other discussion sections to view as a question from them will be on the midterms. As long as you do the few readings there are, review slides and put effort into your presentation (follow the guidelines they post) you will be fine. I messed up on one quiz, and even just that small mistake jeopardized my grade but I was able to recover by doing well on the final.
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