Jenny Saffran
Professor
Ph.D. 1997, University of Rochester
Email: jsaffran@wisc.edu
How do children acquire their native language? My research focuses on the
kinds of learning abilities required to master the complexities of language.
Three broad issues characterize my work. One line of research asks what kinds
of learning emerge in infancy. A second line of research probes the biases that
shape human learning abilities, and the relationship between these biases and
the structure of human languages. A third issue concerns the extent to which
the learning abilities underlying this process are specifically tailored for
language acquisition. Related research concerns infant music perception, and
the relationship between music and language learning.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Thiessen, E.D., Hill, E., & Saffran, J.R. (2005). Infant-directed speech facilitates work segmentation. Infancy, 7, 53-71.
McMullen, E., & Saffran, J.R. (2004). Music and language: A developmental comparison. Music Perception, 21, 289-311.
Saffran, J.R. (2003). Statistical language learning: Mechanisms and constraints. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 110-114
Saffran, J.R., & Thiessen E.D. (2003). Pattern induction by infant language learners. Developmental Psychology, 39, 1926-1928.
Saffran,
J.R., Aslin, R.N., & Newport, E.L. (1996). Statistical learning by 8-month old infants. Science, 274, 1926-1928.
Archived Courses:
Psychology
of Language, Psychology 421
Graduate core course in Language
Development, Psychology 733
See
Syllabus for Dr. Saffran's Issues in Cognitive
Development, Psychology 918, Fall 1998
See
Syllabus for Dr. Saffran's Language Acquisition,
Psychology 918,Spring, 1998
Child
Psychology (Psychology 560), Fall, 2000
Honors
Seminar in Child Psychology (Psychology 580), Fall, 2000
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Phone: (608) 262-9942
Office: 528 Psychology
Saffran Lab
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