English is spoken or written today by one-third of the world's population--an unprecedented achievement for a language. How has this situation come about? And what happens to a language when it is used by so many? In this illustrated history David Crystal charts the development of the language from the earliest runic inscriptions in Old English, through the emergence of a standard variety of English between 1400 and 1800, to the most modern forms...

"We gravitate toward people like us; it's human nature. Race, class, and gender affect this social identity, but one overlooked factor can be even more powerful: the way we speak. As pioneering psychologist Katherine Kinzler reveals in How You Say It, that's because our speech largely reflects the voices we heard as children. We can change how we speak to some extent, whether by "code-switching" between dialects or learning a new language. But for...

"This book focuses on how parents and other caregivers can have richer and more fruitful conversations with their children to better prepare them for school and life"--

In this fascinating and informative book, Margaret Maclagan and Anne Buckley - two specialists in children's language development - explain the subtle and extraordinary process in which children learn to talk and the very important role that parents and grandparents can play. Combining a comprehensive understanding of speech development with fascinating scientific facts - did you know that babies cry with an accent? Talking Baby offers numerous practical...

"An investigation into the science of hearing, child language acquisition, neuroplasticity, brain development, and Deaf culture spurred by Lydia Denworth's discovery that her son couldn't hear her lullabies and the family's life-altering decision to give him a cochlear implant. Lydia Denworth's third son, Alex, was almost two when he was diagnosed with profound and progressive hearing loss. As both a science writer and the mother of young children,...

Infants and toddlers can use sign language well before they can speak, offering an exciting opportunity for the two of you to communicate in deeper and more complete ways. Start things off with baby sign language essentials--like "eat," "more," and "all done"--then move on to more complex ideas--like different foods, the outside world, opposites, and emotions.

"Are you raising your child bilingually, or planning to do so in the future, but are unsure how to proceed? Using a question-and-answer format, this practical and reassuring guide will enable you to make informed decisions about how to raise your child with two or more languages. To grow up bilingually is a necessity or an opportunity for more children today than ever before. However, parents are frequently uncertain about what to do, or even fear...