Proposes that vocal communion between infant and caregiver supports infants' language acquisition and connectedness with caregivers. Recommends research to determine whether social behaviors such as joint attention and vocal imitation are functionally related to language learning or are only symptomatic of a survival-centered caregiving…

Asserts that Bennett's edited work offers an informed, sophisticated, and thought-provoking overview of current issues in developmental psychology. Notes the volume prompts theoretical and empirical reflection and provides fair representation of trends and advances in mainstream child developmental psychology. Suggests that a more thematic…

Contrasts the English past tense inflection with a more complex morphological subsystem, the Polish genitive. The genitive case has three different markers, each restricted to a different subset of nouns, in both the singular and the plural. Analysis of the spontaneous speech of three children between 1 and 5 years of age showed that they…

First-language (L1) reading research has had a major impact on second language (L2) reading research. There was a substantial lag, however, before these L1 theories were adapted and proposed for L2 reading. This article introduces the L2 researcher to the relevant and current L1 test comprehension issues and theories to help close this gap.…

How second language development is assessed has been a question among English as a Second Language (ESL) faculty, since it has previously focused primarily on oral, rather than writing, development. Oral interviews and writing were compared for errors and syntactic maturity to see if any differences could be determined over a two-year period.…

Aspects of language that develop during the adolescent years are discussed in the domains of pragmatics, syntax, and semantics. Selected topics include complex conversational behaviors that adolescents employ, syntactic attainments associated with persuasive writing; and the understanding of proverbs and figurative expressions. Relevant…

Reviews recent research about literacy development, the development of English-language proficiency, and the social, academic, and emotional challenges of entering a new culture. Recommends and describes instructional practices for teaching second-language learners in integrated settings. Focuses on writing, discussion, and scaffolding in the…

This article provides background and current information on the emergence of recently acknowledged concepts in what has been termed the "oracy to literacy continuum" and its relevance to language specialists, including speech-language pathologists, and others. Deficits of phonological processing and the need for phonological awareness training are…

Reviews literature on children's use of metaphors, focusing on how metaphorical language is used in the learning process and the implications for teachers in helping their students use metaphorical language and thereby build knowledge of the world. Asserts that teachers need to speak metaphorically and that conversation, writing, and literature…

Early vocal development, consonant production, and spoken vocabulary were examined in a deaf toddler whose multichannel cochlear implant was activated at 20 months. The child understood almost 240 words and spoke approximately 90 words after one year of implant experience. The combination of early cochlear implantation, family support, and regular…

This article describes the early intervention program developed at the Scottish Centre for Autism. Intervention aimed at improved social communication and social interaction skills is delivered through 1:1 intensive treatment by trained therapists and parent training. Treatment incorporates a child led approach, use of imitation, language use…

Examined contributions of dimensions of maternal responsiveness to timing of milestones in early expressive language development. Found that maternal responsiveness at 9 and 13 months predicted timing of language milestones over and above children's observed behaviors. Responsiveness at 13 months was a stronger predictor of timing than…

Describes articles in special issue as claiming that in learning language children acquire resources to enact culturally sanctioned ways of being and that language-based interactions provide resources for co-constructing reality. Identifies three themes: sensitivity to how participation in social interaction is organized, use of nontraditional…

Argues that it is children's development of knowledge of written language that is key to literacy development. Offers models of emergent literacy and identifies differences between oral and written language. Poses implications for policy, research, and practice in home and school. (DLH)

Argues that the single greatest resource to share and focus on with young children is language. Provides guidelines and specific titles for selection of books most appropriate for each stage of development: (1) for infants; (2) for toddlers and twos; and (3) for three-year-olds. Includes a buyer's directory guide for children's books. (SD)