Cambridge University Press First Language Acquisition

How do young children learn language? When does this process start? What does language acquisition involve? Children are exposed to language from birth, surrounded by knowledgeable speakers who offer feedback and provide extensive practice every day. Through conversation and joint activities, children master the language being used around them. This fully revised third edition of Eve V. Clark's bestselling textbook offers comprehensive coverage of language acquisition, from a baby's first sounds to a child's increasing skill in negotiating, explaining and entertaining with language. This book, drawing together the most recent findings in the field, and illustrated with examples from a wide range of experimental and observational studies, including the author's own diary observations, presents an essential and comprehensive guide to first language acquisition. It will be fascinating reading for students of linguistics, developmental psychology and cognitive science. Review 'This is the textbook I've been looking for: an authoritative, beautifully written survey of the field written by one of the world's leading experts. It provides phenomenal coverage, ranging from classic issues to the latest state-of-the-art findings, in a well-organized structure that students and instructors alike will appreciate. The theoretical insights and charming examples bring the material to life and remind us of the astonishing significance of children's achievement.' Susan A. Gelman, Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor, University of Michigan Book Description Fully updated throughout, this new edition provides a comprehensive exploration of how children acquire a first language effectively. About the Author Eve V. Clark is a Member of the Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her books include Psychology and Language (with H. H. Clark), The Ontogenesis of Meaning, The Acquisition of Romance, The Lexicon in Acquisition, and Constructions in Acquisition (with B. F. Kelly). Her research has involved both observational and experimental studies aimed at discovering what language children understand and what they produce at different stages in development.