Language Development

by Erika Hoff

This comprehensive text offers a balanced, in-depth presentation of a variety of information on how children develop language, beginning with the perception and production of speech sounds in infancy and moving through the development of vocabulary, grammar, and communicative competence. Also included are chapters on language in special populations, childhood bilingualism, and the biological bases of language (which covers such topics as evolution, chimps, and aphasia). Written by an author who has a background in both speech pathology and psychology, the text uses theory to motivate and explain the research and to put the research findings in perspective. It is also the most current resource available with many of the latest research developments referenced from 1999 and 2000.

Genres: Linguistics, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Reference, Language, Education

560 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as interesting material goes I enjoyed the subject matter of this textbook. Unfortunately, this interdisciplinary textbook lacked the tendency of psychology texts to be easy and dynamic reading, with a clear, concise, and logical flow of information throughout the chapter, and instead had a more linguistic tendency to be convoluted and hard to follow. I might have given this textbook three stars regardless of it's convoluted layout, but the author failed to write an inclusive take on linguistic development. I found the examples used to be extremely heteronormative. Considering this newest edition is only a few years old, it would have been nice to have up to date terms used. Lot's of children grow up with two fathers, or two mothers, or has a mother who works and a father that stays home so continuing to talk about the mother's influence on the child's lexical development ceases to make sense.
Also, as a university student, I don't feel that I can afford to pay the $150 that this textbook costs.

[David Schwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a broad view of research in the study of language development. People who have not read books like this one should not be involved in setting school curriculum. While there are still holes in our knowledge we have a pretty firm notion of how language is learned, and correspondingly how to teach language.

Of special interest were chapters covering bilingual education, dyslexia, language and the hear impaired, and autism.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent language text

Recent revisions update research practices in the field and explain development and how/ why skills are important.

Recommended.

[Jozette :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here for my Psycholinguistics class at uni.

Kinda convoluted to read, as many empirical texts are. Very vague sometimes. I wrote an essay arguing phonological development drives lexical development, and there was so much actual research on it but the textbook gives a few paragraphs and a general vibe.

Also, surely you can organise a reference list better. Organise in APA but broken up into chapters at the end to make articles for further reading easier to find for each chapter.

[Jess Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top-notch textbook

[CORSAK fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough intro to the study of language acquisition. Lots of examples, goes into great detail, makes a very lengthy subject approachable.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

ugh