Language Development: An Introduction, 11th edition

Published by Pearson (June 20, 2026) © 2027
Robert E. Owens

Title overview

For courses in Language Development.

Explores generalized development and individual patterns

Language Development is a cohesive, digestible overview of all aspects of the subject including syntax, morphology, semantics, phonology, and pragmatics. Each concept is explained clearly for introductory students, then reinforced with outstanding learning aids such as discussion questions, chapter objectives, reflections, and Main Point boxed features.

The 11th Edition reflects the most up-to-date research and perspectives, adds coverage of bilingualism and other topics, discusses AI and the effects of media on language, and much more.

Hallmark features of this title

  • An easygoing writing style resonates with beginning students, helping them understand important topics without sacrificing academic rigor.
  • Numerous real-world child language examples help readers apply concepts.
  • Proven learning aids include chapter objectives, conclusions, discussion questions, and Main Point features.
  • Discussion of the importance of play shows readers how play affects the development of language.

New and updated features of this title

  • A new dedicated chapter on bilingualism (Ch. 11) highlights its importance and presents the topic in cohesive fashion across several chapters.
    • This increased focus reflects the number of children in the United States who learn language in this way.
  • New discussion of AI and the effects of media/the internet are featured, with increased focus on cognition and language.
  • Streamlined coverage in describing language (Ch. 2) also contains a new section on Connectionism. The author provides enough linguistics background to inform the developmental changes discussed.
  • Additional child language examples throughout better illustrate language structures.
  • Enhanced readability includes more thorough explanations and clarification/simplification of terms.

Key features

Features of Pearson+ eTextbook for the 11th Edition

  • New Video Examples: This revision includes Video Examples that illustrate principles or concepts aligned pedagogically with the chapter.
  • LMS-Compatible Assessment Bank: All quizzes, application exercises, and chapter tests are included in LMS-compatible banks for Blackboard, Canvas, D2L, and Moodle. These packaged files give instructors maximum flexibility for importing, assigning, and grading. Assessment types include:
    • Chapter Review Quizzes: The higher-order, multiple-choice questions in each quiz also provide correct answers and distractors, and explain why each response is correct or incorrect.
    • Application Exercises that provide links to counselling videos or counselling scenarios and ask students to apply what they’ve learned. A model response is provided for each exercise.
    • Chapter Tests: Suggested test items are provided for each chapter, and include questions in multiple-choice and short answer/essay formats.

Table of contents

  • 1. The Territory
  • 2. Describing Language
  • 3. Neurocognitive Bases of Speech and Language
  • 4. The Social and Communicative Bases of Early Language and Speech
  • 5. First Words and Word Combinations
  • 6. Language-Learning and Teaching ProcessesandYoungChildren
  • 7. Preschool Pragmatic and Semantic Development
  • 8. Preschool Development of Language Form
  • 9. Early School-Age Language Development
  • 10. School-Age Literacy Development
  • 11. Bilingual Language Development
  • 12. Adolescent and Adult Language

Appendices

  • A. American English Speech Sounds
  • B. Major Racial and Ethnic Dialects of American English
  • C. Development Summary
  • D. Computing MLU
  • E. Background Grammar

Author bios

About our author

Robert E. Owens, Jr. (“Dr. Bob”), PhD recently retired as New York State Distinguished Teaching Professor and Professor of Communication Disorders and Sciences at the College of St. Rose, where he taught courses in language development and language disorders. In 2016 he received the Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He is the author of Language Development: An Introduction; Language Disorders: A Functional Approach; Program for the Acquisition of Language with the Severely Impaired (PALS); Help Your Baby Talk: Introducing the New Shared Communication Method (with Leah Feldon); and Queer Kids: The Challenge & Promise for Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth.

His Language Development text has been translated into Spanish, Korean and Arabic. He has also co-authored Introduction to Communication Disorders: A Life Span Perspective, and has written a score of book chapters and professional articles. Dr. Owens is coauthor with Stacey Pavelko, PhD of SUGAR, an easy, free, valid language sampling tool. In love with the sound of his own voice, Dr. Bob has presented over 225 professional papers and workshops around the globe. His professional interests are language disorders in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are also some of his best friends.

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