First Language Acquisition

by Eve V. Clark

• ISBN13: 9780521629973
• ISBN10: 0521629977
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

First Language Acquisition takes a comprehensive look at where and when children acquire a first language. It integrates social and cognitive approaches to how children analyze, understand, and produce sounds, words, and sentences, as they learn to use language to cooperate and achieve goals. And it takes a usage-based approach in considering what children learn. It emphasizes pragmatic factors in language use, and includes research on word-formation, and on bilingualism and dialect-choice. This book presents the major findings and debates in highly readable form. It examines the changes and continuity in children's language as they go from 'Ball' to 'I want to throw it now', from 'Stop, door open' to 'You mustn't open the door before the car stops'; as they learn how to be polite, how to describe sequences of events, how to talk to family, friends, and strangers, and how to tell stories.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures	ix
Acknowledgements	xv
Acquiring Language: Issues and Questions	1	(22)
Part One. Getting Started	23	(136)
In Conversation with Children	25	(30)
Starting on Language: Perception	55	(24)
Early Words	79	(22)
Sounds in Words: Production	101	(30)
Words and Meanings	131	(28)
Part Two. Constructions and Meanings	159	(142)
First Combinations, First Constructions	161	(26)
Modulating Word Meanings	187	(26)
Adding Complexity within Clauses	213	(32)
Combining Clauses: More Complex Constructions	245	(28)
Constructing Words	273	(28)
Part Three. Using Language	301	(82)
Honing Conversational Skills	303	(28)
Doing Things with Language	331	(32)
Language and Dialect	363	(20)
Part Four. Process in Acquisition	383	(52)
Specialization for Language	385	(24)
Acquisition and Change	409	(26)
Glossary	435	(6)
References	441	(50)
Name Index	491	(13)
Subject Index	504