Language in Children

Language in Children provides a concise basic introduction for students studying child language acquisition for the first time. Starting from the first sounds infants produce, this book describes the stages young children go through in acquiring a language. It illustrates developmental stages from the recognition of sounds and words to the ability to hold a conversation, and features real-life examples of the phenomena discussed from a variety of languages.

Revised and updated throughout, this new edition:

• Includes new developments within this area of research, and includes updated terminology to reflect current standards;
• Offers expanded perspectives on first language acquisition and introduces content on bilingualism, heritage languages, and culturally diverse examples beyond Indo-European languages;
• Covers the acquisition of language in bilingual settings;
• Considers the effects of language disorders;
• Incorporates guidance on further reading for each chapter;
• Is supported by online materials with links to real-world data in the CHILDES archive and by other web-based sources.

Providing a comprehensive and inclusive exploration of first language acquisition and written by an experienced researcher and teacher, Language in Children is essential reading for students beginning to study this topic.