AN INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Introduction to Speech, Language and Literacy is written for Australian and New Zealand students studying education, speech pathology and linguistics, fields with a strong focus on communication. This book provides readers with a theoretical understanding of speech, language and literacy acquisition, and the ability to apply this understanding to individuals of different ages and developmental stages, including those who are developing typically and those with speech, language and literacy difficulties (e.g. as a result of structural or functional impairments such as hearing loss, social–pragmatic difficulties such as autism, or acquired conditions such as aphasia after a stroke). Throughout, indigenous people and languages of Australia and New Zealand are included, as well as people from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Introduction to Speech, Language and Literacy uses a lifespan approach to consider communication skills from childhood to adolescence and adulthood. Typical acquisition is described throughout the book and many chapters provide tables of typical milestones or developmental sequences. Readers are provided with descriptions of difficulties people may have acquiring speech, language and literacy skills, and strategies are provided for educators, speech pathologists and linguists to support speech, language and literacy.