Vision and the Emergence of Meaning: Blind and Sighted Children's Early Language

by Anne Dunlea

Overview

Dunlea's examination of the relationship between language and conceptual development is based on her analysis of the early language in a group of blind, partially sighted and fully sighted children who participated in a pioneering longitudinal study at the University of Southern California. In particular, the study reveals a convergence of early language and conceptual development. By focusing on the processes of development rather than merely describing the end products of language acquisition, the author not only identifies significant differences in blind and sighted children, but also offers new insights on semantic and pragmatic development in general.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521304962
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/07/1989
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.63(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; List of symbols; List of codes; 1. Introduction; 2. Blindness and childhood; 3. Methodology and introduction of subjects; 4. First words; 5. First multi-word utterances; 6. Developments in the use of illocutionary force; 7. Conclusion; Appendices; References; Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

"The evidence presented here for both a biogenetic language program and adaptive cognitive strategies provides a welcome new perspective on the contentious theoretical issues that have recently divided the field of language acquisition." Science

"...adequately planned and carefully carried uot longitudinal study." G. Patel, Language

From the Publisher