New languages are constantly emerging, as existing languages diverge into different forms. To explain this fascinating process, we need to understand how langua

An engaging account of how new languages come into being, arguing that children are the driving force.

It is generally agreed that about 7,000 languages are spoken across the world today and at least half may no longer be spoken by the end of this century. This s

A new and exciting introduction to linguistics, this textbook presents language in all its amazing complexity, while guiding students gently through the basics.

This book provides a snapshot of the field of language acquisition at the beginning of the 21st Century. It represents the multiplicity of approaches that chara