Evaluating Theories of Language

One approach to the study of language has been to describe peoplewhose ability to communicate is impaired. Some researchers haveargued that it is possible to identify the component mentalprocesses that contribute to the ability to communicate bydescribing the ways in which language can break down. Otherresearchers have expressed doubts about the extent to which datafrom impairment reflects normal language function.
This volume reflects the problems of constructing theory of howthe normal brain deals with language from data from impairedindividuals from the perspective of a range of disciplines: psycholinguistics, linguistics, neurophysiology and speech-languagepathology. The chapters include critiques of methodology; application of new technology; the study of bilingual people; andcross-linguistic studies. A range of language skills is discussed(phonology, prosody, syntax, semantics, reading and spelling) inthe context of both developmental and acquired impairments (hearingloss, cerebellar dysarthria, sub-cortical aphasia, corticalaphasia, phonological disorder, and dyslexia).
This book icludes contributions from researchers and clinicianson both sides of the Atlantic as well as from Australia and HongKong.