Talking the talk

the long version

"Language makes us human, but how do we use it and how do children learn it? Talking the Talk is an introduction to the psychology of language. Written for those with no knowledge of psychology or background in the area, it explains how we actually "do" language: how we speak, listen, and read." "This book provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to psycholinguistics. It shows how it is possible to study language experimentally, and how psychologists use these experiments to build models of language processing. The book focuses on controversy in modern psycholinguistics, covering all the main topics including how children acquire language, how language is related to the brain, and what can go wrong - and what can be done when something does go wrong." "Structured around questions that people often ask about language, Talking the Talk emphasises how scientific knowledge can be applied to practical problems. It also looks at how language is related to other aspects of psychology by examining whether animals can learn language and the relationship between language and thought."--Jacket.