Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The Blackwell Handbook of Language Development provides a comprehensive treatment of the major topics and current concerns in the field; exploring the progress of 21st century research, its precursors, and promising research topics for the future. Provides comprehensive treatments of the major topics and current concerns in the field of language development Explores foundational and theoretical approaches Focuses on the 21st century's research into the areas of brain development, computational skills, bilingualism, education, and cross-cultural comparison Looks at language development in infancy through early childhood, as well as atypical development Considers the past work, present research, and promising topics for the future. Broad coverage makes this an excellent resource for graduate students in a variety of disciplines

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of Contributors
• Preface
• 1 On the Development of the Field of Language Development
• Part I Basic Foundations and Theoretical Approaches to Language Development:
• Introduction
• 2 The Neurodevelopmental Bases of Language
• 3 Formal and Computational Constraints on Language Development
• 4 Domain-General Learning Capacities
• 5 How Inherently Social is Language?
• 6 Input and the Acquisition of Language: Three Questions
• 7 The Emergence of Language: A Dynamical Systems Account
• Part II Language Development in Infancy:
• Introduction
• 8 Experiential Influences on Speech Perception and Speech Production in Infancy
• 9 Acquiring Linguistic Structure
• 10 Cognitive Processes in Early Word Learning
• 11 Syntactic Supports for Word Learning
• Part III Language Development in Early Childhood:
• Introduction
• 12 Phonological Development
• 13 Mechanisms of Word Learning
• 14 The Abstract Nature of Syntactic Representations: Consequences for a Theory of Learning
• 15 Conversational Understanding in Young Children
• 16 Bilingual First Language Acquisition
• Part IV Language Development after Early Childhood:
• Introduction
• 17 Developing Linguistic Knowledge and Language Use Across Adolescence
• 18 Language and Literacy in Bilingual Children in the Early School Years
• 19 Second Language Acquisition in Childhood
• Part V Atypical Language Development:
• Introduction
• 20 Children with Specific Language Impairment: Bridging the Genetic and Developmental Perspectives
• 21 Atypical Language Development: Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• 22 Reading and Reading Disorders
• Author Index
• Subject Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Encompassing typical and atypical development of language, this volume offers a comprehensive compilation of contemporary research. Hoff (Florida Atlantic Univ.) and Shatz (Univ. of Michigan) open the volume with a section on basic language research then organize the research by periods of development--infancy, early childhood, and "after early childhood," the last including information on language development across the school years. Among the topics covered are the various aspects of language, theoretical approaches, second-language acquisition, and language and literacy in bilingual children. Discussion of atypical language development focuses on specific language impairment, autism, reading disorders, Williams Syndrome, and Down Syndrome. By reporting on current research and past theory, the contributors, all professionals, attempt to answer the question of how language is acquired and developed. But they also recognize gaps of knowledge in past and current research and make recommendations for future topics of study. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professionals. C. M. Thornton Elmira College

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Erika Hoff is Professor of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University. She is author of Language Development (2005).

Marilyn Shatz is Professor of Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Michigan. She is author of A Toddler's Life (1994).