Language Development and Individual Differences: A Study of Auxiliary Verb Learning

by Brian J. Richards

Overview

Brian Richards examines variation in children's early language development, with special emphasis on the auxiliary verb. He identifies significant variation both in the age and in the stage of emergence of auxiliaries, and in the rate, style and sequence of subsequent development. He relates some of these aspects to a tendency to acquire the auxiliary holistically, and others to the quality of interaction with the child's partners in conversation. This book will be valuable to all those interested in language acquisition, whether linguists, psychologists, or speech therapists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521362535
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/25/1990
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

Part 1. Introductory Sections: 1. The auxiliary and the young language learner; 2. Rate of auxiliary verb learning in thirty-three children; Part II. Individual Differences and Auxiliary Verb Learning in Seven Children: 3. Research design; 4. Rate of development; 5. Indicators of analytic and piecemeal learning; 6. The complexity principle as an indicator of holistic learning; 7. Individual differences and the development of auxiliaries in tag questions; 8. The development of auxiliary DO; 9. The development of CAN; Part III: Environmental Influences and Individual Differences in Auxiliary Verb Learning: 10. Previous research; 11. Yes/No questions and rate of auxiliary learning for thirty-two children; 12. Conclusion; Notes; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"For readers interested in auxiliary verb acquisition particularly, the book provides the most comprehensive and detailed account currently available....provides the researcher and student of language acquisition with a wealth of insightful comments on methodology and interpretation. It should also interest those who want to understand better the problems and complexities of providing adequate descriptions and explanations for young children's developing and variably displayed knowledge of language." Marilyn Shatz, Contemporary Psychology

From the Publisher