A balanced and multidimensional survey of language development rich in learning tools and features.   Language Development from Theory to Practice provides students with a user-friendly approach to key topics in language development, including research methods, theoretical perspectives, major language milestones from birth to adolescence, and language diversity and language disorders. The research based and theoretical foundation found in this engaging text is designed to prepare students for advanced study in subjects associated with language development by summarizing the various theoretical orientations that have guided research and practice. With an emphasis on the relevance of the material to students’ current and future experiences in clinical, educational, and research settings, this text also focuses on individual differences in language development, including those of children who are developing language in diverse cultures or who are developing language atypically.   Features   ·        A balance of theory and practice provides students with a theoretical and scientific foundation to the study of language development and prepares them for advanced study in language development and related fields. ·        A multidisciplinary focus allows readers to best understand the constantly evolving and diverse world of language development study ·        Multicultural considerations in understanding language development promotes students’ awareness of the way culture interacts with language development for children from diverse backgrounds within and beyond North American communities. ·        An emphasis on research familiarize students with the use of evidence-based practices as well as the most current empirical findings in children’s language achievements. ·        A reader-friendly format and style promotes student learning with boldfaced terms, helpful figures and graphs, discussion questions, and an engaging writing style. ·        Learning tools and features, include focus questions, chapter summaries, resource lists, boxed inserts. ·        A companion website located at www.pearsonhighered.com/pence2e, offers students reflection questions, study items, and helpful website links to related sites of interest for further study. ·        A CD-ROM that contains language samples of children from birth through 13 years of age and video clips of research paradigms used to learn about language development gives students an opportunity to hear and visualize language development and language development concepts.

Table of Contents:
Glossary    Brief Contents Chapter 1 Language Development: An Introduction Chapter 2The Science and Theory of Language Development Chapter 3Building Blocks of Language Chapter 4  Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Language Chapter 5Infancy: Let the Language Achievements Begin   Chapter 6Toddlerhood: Exploring the World and Experimenting with Language Chapter 7Preschool: Building Literacy on Language Chapter 8 School-Age Years and Beyond: Developing Later Language Chapter 9 Language Differences and Disorders Glossary    References Subject and Name index    Contents 1  Language Development: An Introduction   Focus Questions Important Terms   What Is Language? Language Defined Language as a Module of Human Cognition How Does Language Relate to Speech, Hearing, and Communication? Speech   Hearing   Communication What Are the Major Domains of Language? Form, Content, and Use Components of Form, Content, and Use What Are Some Remarkable Features of Language?   Acquisition Rate Universality Species Specificity  Semanticity Productivity   What Are Language Differences and Language Disorders? Language Differences Language Disorders Summary 2  The Science and Theory of Language Development Focus Questions Important Terms Who Studies Language Development and Why? Basic Research Applied Research  What Are Some Major Approaches to Studying Language Development? Approaches to Studying Speech Perception Approaches to Studying Language Production Approaches to Studying Language Comprehension   What Are Some Major Language Development Theories?   Questions That Should Be Answered by Language Theories  Major Language Development Theories   How Do Language Development Theories Influence Practice?  Linkage of Theory to Practice Instruction in English as a Second Language: Theory and Practice   Practices Informed by Language Theories Evidence-Based Practice: Linking Theory, Science, and Practice   Summary   3  Building Blocks of Language Focus Questions Important Terms What Is Phonological Development?   Phonological Building Blocks Influences on Phonological Development   What Is Morphological Development? Morphological Building Blocks Influences on Morphological Development What Is Syntactic Development? Syntactic Building Blocks Influences on Syntactic Development   Influences on Syntactic Development What Is Semantic Development?   Semantic Building Blocks Influences on Semantic Development What Is Pragmatic Development? Pragmatic Building Blocks Influences on Pragmatic Development   Summary 4  Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Language   Focus Questions Important Terms  What Are Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology?   Terminology Neuroscience Basics What Are The Major Structures And Functions Of The Human Brain? Cerebrum Brainstem Cerebellum How Does the Human Brain Process and Produce Language?  Semantics Syntax and Morphology Phonology Pragmatics What Are Neurophysiological and Neuroanatomical Sensitive Periods? Sensitive Periods Defined Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Concepts Related to Sensitive Periods Sensitive Periods and Language Acquisition Summary 5  Infancy: Let the Language Achievements Begin Focus Questions Important Terms What Major Language Development Milestones Occur in Infancy? Infant Speech Perception Awareness of Actions and Intentions   Category Formation Early Vocalizations Additional Milestones What Are Some of the Early Foundations for Language Development? Infant-Directed Speech Joint Reference and Attention   Daily Routines of Infancy  Caregiver Responsiveness What Major Achievements in Language Form, Content, and Use Characterize Infancy? Language Form Language Content   Language Use What Factors Influence Infants’ Individual Achievements in Language? Intraindividual Differences Interindividual Differences How Do Researchers and Clinicians Measure Language Development in Infancy? Researchers Clinicians Summary  6   Toddlerhood: Exploring the World and Experimenting with Language   Focus Questions Important Terms What Major Language Development Milestones Occur in Toddlerhood? First Words Gestures What Major Achievements in Language Form, CONTENT, and Use Characterize Toddlerhood? Language Form Language Content Language Use What Factors Influence Toddlers’ Individual Achievements in Language?   Intraindividual Differences Interindividual Differences How Do Resesarchers and Clinicians Measure Language Development in Toddlerhood? Researchers Clinicians Summary 7    Preschool: Building Literacy on Language   Focus Questions   Important Terms What Major Language Development Milestones Occur in the Preschool Period?   Decontextualized Language Emergent Literacy What Major Achievements in Language Content, Form, and Use Characterize the Preschool Period? Language Form Language Content Language Use  What Factors Influence Preschoolers’ Individual Achievements in Language? Intraindividual Differences Interindividual Differences How Do Researchers and Clinicians Measure Language Development in the Preschool Period? Researchers Clinicians Summary 8  School-Age Years and Beyond: Developing Later Language   Focus Questions Important Terms What Major Language Development Milestones Occur in the School-Age Years and Beyond? Shifting Sources of Language Input Acquisition of Metalinguistic Competence What Major Achievements in Language Content, Form, and Use Characterize the School-Age Years and Beyond? Language Form   Language Content Language Use What Factors Influence School-Age Children’s, Adolescents’, and Adults’ Individual Competencies in Language? Language and Gender Language and Aging   How Do Researchers and Clinicians Measure Language Development in the School-Age Years and Beyond? Assessment Types Assessment of Language Form Assessment of Language Content  Assessment of Language Use Summary   9  Language Diffrences and Disorders    Focus Questions important terms WHAT ARE DIALECTSWhat are? Dialects Pidgins Creoles What Are Bilingualism and Second Language Acquisition? Bilingualism and Multilingualism Second Language Acquisition What Is a Language Disorder? Distinguishing Between Language Disorders and Language Differences Prevalence What Are The Major Types of Child Language Disorders? Specific Language Impairment Autism Spectrum Disorder Intellectual Disability Traumatic Brain Injury Hearing Loss   Identification and Treatment of Language Disorders  Summary References   Subject and name Index