Publisher's Synopsis
"Learning About Language" is a series providing introductions to fundamental topics in language, linguistics and related areas. Designed for students of linguistics and those who are studying language as part of a wider course.;Psycholinguistics, the investigation of the mental processes involved in human communication, is central to an understanding of language and mind. This book is a thorough introduction to psycholinguistics, which shows how the area relates to psychology, linguistics, philosophy and education.;Introduces the essential concepts of the constituent sub-fields of psycholinguistics, and provides a knowledge and understanding of contemporary research and issues, enabling the student to conduct enquiries independently. Focuses on how young children acquire language and demonstrates how sign language helps us to gain a deeper understanding of the acquisition process. Explores such complex and challenging topics as mental grammar and sentence processing, the relationship of language to thought and culture to the brain. Considers second language acquisition processes, teaching methods and the cognitive impact of bilingualism.;It is aimed at students and teachers of linguistics at an introductory level.
