Includes bibliographical references (pages 178-189) and index.
Contents:
A: Introduction: key concepts in language -- 1. Approaches to language acquisition -- 2. Phonological development -- 3. Lexical development -- 4. Morphological development -- 5. Syntactic development -- 6. Discourse development -- 7. Literacy development -- 8. The bilingual child -- B. Development: analyzing children's language -- 1. A closer look at Child Directed Speech -- 2. Learning and producing the sounds of words -- 3. Learning the meaning of words -- 4. Learning how to build words -- 5. Learning how to build sentences -- 6. Acquiring communicative competence -- 7. A closer look at spelling -- 8. Using two dialects -- C. Exploration: data for investigation -- 1. Research methods -- 2. Children's pronunciation patterns -- 3. Children's lexicons -- 4. Children as word-makers -- 5. Building a grammar -- 6. Children's conversations -- 7. Children's writing -- 8. Using more than one language -- D. Extension: readings in language acquisitions -- 1. Current perspectives on language acquisition (David Messer) -- 2. Children's mental representations of sounds (Neil Smith) -- 3. Naming things for children (Roger Brown) -- 4. A child's invention of new words (Judith Becker) -- 5. Accounting for growth and change in children's grammar (Richard Cromer) -- 6. Language and socialization (Jean Gleason) -- 7. A cross-linguistic approach to dyslexia (Usha Goswami) -- 8. Bilingual children's use of code-switching (J. Normann Jorgensen).
Summary:
Routledge English Language Introductions cover core areas of language study and are one-stop resources for students. Assuming no prior knowledge, books in the series offer an accessible overview of the subject, with activities, study questions, sample analyses, commentaries and key readings - all in the same volume. The innovative and flexible 'two-dimensional' structure is built around four sections - introduction, development, exploration and extension - which offer self-contained stages for study. Each topic can be read across these sections, enabling the reader to build gradually on the knowledge gained. Child Language: provides a comprehensive overview of language acquisition in children, introduces students to key theories and concerns such as innateness, the role of input and the relation of language to other cognitive functions, teaches students the skills needed to analyze children's language, includes sections on the bilingual child and atypical language development, provides classic readings by key names in the field, such as Brian MacWhinney, Richard Cromer, Jean Aitchison and Eve Clark.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.