An Introduction to Bilingual Development

Understanding how children learn two languages in diverse environments

Annick de Houwer author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Channel View Publications Ltd

Published:27th May '09

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

An Introduction to Bilingual Development cover

This textbook provides insights into how children learn two languages, illustrated through the bilingual experiences of four young children. An Introduction to Bilingual Development is both informative and engaging.

This introductory textbook explores how children develop their understanding and ability to speak two languages within their unique language learning environments. Through engaging narratives centered on the bilingual development of four young children, each with distinct language profiles, the book makes the latest research findings accessible and relatable. Readers will find that these stories not only illustrate theoretical concepts but also bring to life the real experiences of bilingual children navigating their dual language worlds.

As children increasingly grow up hearing two languages from birth, the book delves into the intricacies of how they learn to comprehend and articulate these languages. It highlights the processes through which bilingually raised children acquire sounds, words, and sentences in both languages, demonstrating their ability to use each language appropriately in social contexts. By weaving together research with personal narratives, the book offers valuable insights into the bilingual experience.

A key theme in An Introduction to Bilingual Development is the importance of positive attitudes towards bilingualism from caregivers and educators. The text emphasizes that recognizing child bilingualism as more than just a simple combination of two languages is crucial for fostering a supportive environment. Such an understanding ensures that children develop into confident and proficient speakers of both languages, ultimately leading to their happiness and success in a bilingual world.

De Houwer’s book introduces readers to the research findings about bilingual first language acquisition through the charming stories of four imaginary bilingual children growing up in different contexts. Parents, students, and practitioners alike will discover what to expect from typical bilingual acquisition, including how individual “typical” can be!

-- Elena Nicoladis, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada

The kind of bilingual development which starts very early, namely bilingual first language acquisition (BFLA), seems to attract much attention and spark much curiosity. How do children manage to acquire two languages simultaneously? In what ways does early bilingual exposure affect the course of their overall language development? Behind such questions lurks the yardstick of monolingualism, by which BFLA is often inappropriately evaluated. Now prominent BFLA expert Annick de Houwer has given us an introductory book with a most balanced and fair view of BFLA as a standard in its own right, tracing the bilingual development of four fictitious prototypical children. As always, her clarity of thought and writing makes the book accessible to anyone.

-- Masayo Yamamoto, Professor of Bilingualism Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

Overall this book is written in an understandable and easy-to-follow manner, particularly due to the use of stories of the four children throughout…this book would be an excellent addition to a course on bilingual child language acquisition, as it contains clearly explained information on bilingual language acquisition in an easily accessible format.

-- Alyssa Martoccio, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA * Studies in Second Language Acquisition / Volume 33 / Issue 04 / December 2011, pp 629-6

ISBN: 9781847691699

Dimensions: 245mm x 174mm x 12mm

Weight: 349g

104 pages