Child Language: Acquisition And Development - Softcover

Saxton, Matthew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412902320 ISBN 13: 9781412902328

Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd, 2010

Synopsis

Electronic Inspection Copy available for instructors here

Presented with the latest thinking and research on how children acquire their first language, the reader is taken from a standing start to the point where they can engage with key debates and current research in the field of child language. No background knowledge of linguistic theory is assumed and all specialist terms are introduced in clear, non-technical language. A theme running through the book is the nature-nurture debate, rekindled in the modern era by Noam Chomsky, with his belief that the child is born with a rich knowledge of language. This book is rare in its balanced presentation of evidence from both sides of the nature-nurture divide.

The reader is encouraged to adopt a critical stance throughout and weigh up the evidence for themselves. Key features for the student include: boxes and exercises to foster an understanding of key concepts in language and linguistics; a glossary of key terms; suggestions for further reading; a list of useful websites at the end of each chapter; discussion points for use in class; and separate author and subject indexes.

About this title

About the Author

Matthew Saxton is trained in psychology and linguistics at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, and worked for about 20 years variously at Royal Holloway, University of London, Westminster University and the Institute of Education - UCL. In 2011, he retrained as a nurse and now works in the NHS at a central London hospital.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1412902320
• ISBN 13: 9781412902328
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 344