Talking the Talk ─ Language, Psychology and Science

Talking the Talk provides a comprehensive introduction to the psychology of language, written for the reader with no background in the field or prior knowledge of psychology. Written in an accessible and friendly style, the book answers the questions people actually want to know about language; how we speak, listen, read, and learn.

The book advocates an experimental approach, explaining how psychologists can use experiments to build models of language processing. Considering the full breadth of psycholinguistics, the book covers core topics including how children acquire language, how language is related to the brain, and what can go wrong. Fully updated throughout, this edition also includes:

• Increased emphasis on recursion
• Additional coverage on the genetics of language
• Insight into potential cognitive advantages of bilingualism
• New content on brain imaging and neuroscience

Talking the Talk is written in an engaging style which does not hesitate to explain complex concepts; it is essential reading for all undergraduate students and those new to the topic, as well as the interested lay reader.

Trevor Harley is Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Dean of the School of Psychology at the University of Dundee, UK. He was an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge, where he was also a PhD student, completing a thesis on slips of the tongue and what they tell us about speech production. He moved to Dundee from the University of Warwick in 1996. His research interests include speech production, how we represent meaning, and the effects of ageing on language.He is also the author ofThe Psychology of Language, now in its fourth edition.