"Routledge English Language Introductions" cover core areas of language study and are one-stop resources for students. Assuming no prior knowledge, books in the series offer an accessible overview of the subject, with activities, study questions, sample analyses, commentaries and key readings - all in the same volume. The innovative and flexible 'two-dimensional' structure is built around four sections - introduction, development, exploration and extension - which offer self-contained stages for study. Each topic can be read across these sections, enabling the reader to build gradually on the knowledge gained. "Child Language": provides a comprehensive overview of language acquisition in children; introduces students to key theories and concerns such as innateness, the role of input and the relation of language to other cognitive functions; teaches students the skills needed to analyse children's language; includes sections on the bilingual child and atypical language development; and provides classic readings by key names in the field, such as Brian MacWhinney, Richard Cromer, Jean Aitchison and Eve Clark.