A brief history of the study of language acquisition is followed by a detailed discussion of two subareas: metalinguistic thinking and the development of literacy. (MP)

Examines questions related to whether children with severe learning disabilities go through the same developmental stages as children without such problems, or whether they develop along different lines. Explores the "delay" versus "deviance" issue in relation to linguistic development in children with Down's syndrome. Looks…

Describes growth in the number of studies of behavior development conducted in Japan during the last 20 years and identifies areas of development receiving attention by Japanese researchers. (RH)

Reconsiders the predominant views on the acquisition of kinship terms. Topics discussed include: (1) kinship and the ontogenesis of logic; (2) kinship and semantic development; (3) the language learner as naive theorist; (4) development and domain specificity; and (5) an alternative approach to kinship. (RJC)

The evidence for the cerebral organization of and hemispheric specialization for man's two principal psychological domains, language and visuospatial function, are selectively reviewed. Three theoretical models of cerebral organization are outlined. Some neuro-psychological and educational implications of sex differences in hemispheric…

A brief history of Chinese developmental psychology is given, and current main research projects are highlighted. (Author/MP)