Clearly written, well organized, and comprehensive, Language Development is the most widely used text in its field. In recognition of the language variations among children, new advances in linguistics and neurology, and the importance of literacy, the Seventh Edition of this highly readable text devotes significant space to these areas as they impact our understanding of individual development. In addition, discussion of other cultures is included in the text wherever possible. Sections on culturally linguistically diverse children accurately reflect the realities of everyday life in the United States. Developed within a practical chronological framework, the Seventh Edition examines every aspect of syntax, morphology, semantics, phonology, and pragmatics. As in previous editions, Owens presents even the most complex, technical concepts at an appropriate level for beginning students.

Table of Contents

All chapters begin with "Chapter Objectives" and conclude with "Conclusion," "Discussions," and "Reflections." Preface 1. The Territory This Text and You Speech, Language, and Communication Properties of Language Components of Language 2. Describing Language Behavioral Theory Psycholinguistic Theory: A Syntactic Model Psycholinguistic Theory: A Semantic/Cognitive Model Sociolinguistic Theory Emergentism 3. Neurological Bases of Speech and Language Central Nervous System Language Processing Theory of Mind 4. Cognitive, Perceptual, and Motor Bases of Early Language and Speech Which Came First, Cognition or Language? Neurological Development Early Cognitive Development 5. The Social and Communicative Bases of Early Language and Speech Development of Communication: A Chronology Maternal Communication Behaviors Interactions between Infant and Caregiver 6. Language-Learning and Teaching Processes and Young Children. Comprehension, Production, and Cognitive Growth Child Learning Strategies Adult Conversational Teaching Techniques Importance of Play Cultural and Social Differences 7. A First Language: Toddler Talk Single-Word Utterances Early Multiword Combinations Phonological Learning 8. Preschool Pragmatic and Semantic Development Preschool Development Pragmatic Development Semantic Development Interdependence of Form, Content, and Use: Pronouns. 9. Preschool Development of Language Form Semantic-Syntactic Connection Stages of Syntactic and Morphologic Development Morphologic Development Sentence-Form Development Embedding and Conjoining Phonemic and Phonological Development 10. Early School-Age Language Development Pragmatic Development Semantic Development Syntactic and Morphologic Development Phonological Development Metalinguistic Abilities 11. School-Age Literacy Development The Process of Reading Reading Development The Process of Writing Writing Development 12. Adolescent and Adult Language Pragmatics Semantics Syntax and Morphology Phonology Literacy 13. Language Differences: Bidialectism and Bilingualism Dialects Bilingualism 14. Language Research and Analysis Issues in the Study of Childhood Language Cross-Language Studies Examples of Child Language Data Appendix A: American English Speech Sounds Appendix B: Transcripts to Accompany Text Compact Disc

Prizes

This best-selling book addresses language variations among children, new advances in linguistics and neurology, and the importance of literacy, as well the impact of these issues on our understanding of individual development. In addition, this clearly written and comprehensive book features sections on culturally and linguistically diverse children to reflect the realities of schools in the United States. Developed within a practical framework, Language Development: An Introduction examines every aspect of syntax, morphology, semantics, phonology, and pragmatics. New features to this edition include: *A new chapter (Ch. 11) on School-Age Literacy Development. *Updates to the chapter on Cognitive, Perceptual, and Motor Bases of Early Language and Speech (Ch. 4) that include the latest in brain imaging information to convey links between anatomy, physiology, cognition, and language, as well as the roles these links play in the development of language abnormalities. *Updated Companion Website that now includes extensive audio examples of child language.

Reviews

"What I really like about the Owens text is that he goes into enough detail to make it a 'meaty' text for the serious student." -Margery Whites, St. Cloud State University "The Owens Language Development text provides students with a wealth of current information. I have been satisfied with this text." - Barbara Weitzner-Lin, State University College of Buffalo