Language Development From Theory to Practice

NOW PUBLISHED BY PLURAL! 

Turnbull and Justice’s Language Development from Theory to Practice, Fourth Edition provides a multidisciplinary, research-grounded introduction to how language develops from infancy through the school-age years and beyond. The text establishes a foundation in the building blocks, science, and major theories of language development before examining developmental achievements in language form, content, and use. Drawing on perspectives from communication sciences and disorders, linguistics, psychology, education, neuroscience, and related fields, the authors explore the biological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that shape language learning, with attention to the individual differences that characterize development.

Written in an accessible, student-friendly style, the text takes an integrated approach to theory, research, and practice, demonstrating how each informs the study and application of language development. Students explore developmental milestones and variation, language diversity, and childhood language disorders while learning how researchers and clinicians study and measure children’s language abilities. Throughout, the authors demonstrate how theoretical perspectives and research findings inform evidence-based educational and clinical decision-making, helping students apply foundational knowledge to their future work with children and families. The Fourth Edition’s science-and-theory coverage also places greater emphasis on translational research and applications in home, classroom, and clinical contexts.

New to the Fourth Edition

• Expanded focus on literacy development, including the Science of Reading, decoding, language comprehension, phonics, and the relationship between oral language and reading achievement
• Broader treatment of language diversity and multilingual development, with current perspectives on bilingualism and multilingualism, code-switching, translanguaging, English Learners, and second language acquisition
• Current approaches to childhood language disorders, including developmental language disorder (DLD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other neurodevelopmental conditions, with updated terminology and research
• Reconceptualized treatment of nature and nurture in language development, integrating neuroscience and environmental influences on language learning, brain development, language processing, sensitive periods, and neuroplasticity
• Updated research and content throughout, complemented by additional data tables and visual elements

Key Features

• Chapter Learning Outcomes aligned with key concepts and skills
• Bolded key terms throughout and an end-of-book glossary reinforce essential terminology
• Theory to Practice boxes offer recommendations for educators and clinicians
• Chapter Summaries reinforce major concepts and developmental principles
• Rich visual supports, including figures, tables, and photos that enhance comprehension

PluralPlus Ancillaries

• For Instructors:
  • PowerPoint Slides
  • Instructor’s Resource Manual with Chapter Learning Outcomes, Class Activities, Discussion Points, Case Studies, and a Test Bank
  • LMS Course: A ready-to-use LMS course organized into chapter-aligned modules featuring Learning Outcomes, Assessments, Activities, Videos, and more
• For Students:
  • Study Quizzes
  • eFlashcards
  • Video Links

Preface
Chapter 1. Language Development: An Introduction
Chapter 2. Building Blocks of Language
Chapter 3. The Science and Theory of Language Development
Chapter 4. Nature and Nurture in Language Development
Chapter 5. Infancy: Let the Language Achievements Begin
Chapter 6. Toddlerhood: Exploring the World and Experimenting With Language
Chapter 7. Preschool: Building Literacy on Language
Chapter 8. School-Age Years and Beyond: Developing Later Language
Chapter 9. Language Diversity
Chapter 10. Language Disorders in Children
Glossary
Index

Language Development From Theory to Practice, Fourth Edition comes with access to supplementary student and instructor resources on a PluralPlus companion website.

The companion website is located at: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publication/ldftp4e

STUDENTS:

The student resources include Study Quizzes, eFlashcards, and Video Links.

To access the student resources, you must register on the companion website and log in using the access code located in the front of your textbook.

INSTRUCTORS:

The instructor resources include:

• PowerPoint Slides
• Instructor’s Resource Manual with Chapter Learning Outcomes, Class Activities, Discussion Points, Case Studies, and a Test Bank
• LMS Course: A ready-to-use LMS course organized into chapter-aligned modules featuring Learning Outcomes, Assessments, Activities, Videos, and more

Instructors also have access to the student resources listed above.

To access the instructor resources, you must contact Plural Publishing to be verified as an instructor and receive your access code.

            Email: instructormaterials@pluralpublishing.com

            Tel: 866-758-7251 (toll free) or 858-492-1555

*Note for students: If you have purchased this textbook used or have rented it, your access code will not work if it was already redeemed by the original buyer of the book. Plural Publishing does not offer replacement access codes for used or rented textbooks.