Psychology of Language

Trevor A. Harley is Dean of Psychology and Chair of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Dundee, Scotland. 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 aging on language.

• Section A: Introduction 1. The Study of Language 2. Describing Language Section B: The Biological and Developmental Bases of Language 3. The Foundations of Language 4. Language Development 5. Bilingualism and Second Language Section C: Word Recognition 6. Recognizing Visual Words 7. Reading 8. Learning to Read and Spell 9. Understanding Speech Section D: Meaning and Using Language 10. Understanding the Structure of Sentences 11. Word Meaning 12. Comprehension Section E: Production and Other Aspects of Language 13. Language Production 14. How Do We Use Language? 15. The Structure of the Language System 16. New Directions. Appendix: Connectionism. Glossary. References. Author Index. Subject Index.

"Thank goodness for Harley's textbook, The Psychology of Language! I have been recommending it to undergraduate students in my third year ‘Language and Cognition’ course ever since the first edition came out because it provides the ideal resource for accessing basic information about virtually every topic within the domain of psycholinguistics. With each new edition, the coverage becomes increasingly comprehensive and accessible and, while the growing popularity of neuroimaging is acknowledged, an appropriately cautious approach is taken to its contribution to our understanding of language processing. Whether such a stance will hold up in future years is an interesting question – and is the very question that Harley leaves us with." - Marcus Taft, University of New South Wales, Australia"This excellent book provides a very good overview of topics and controversies and the most important models in the field of psycholinguistics. The breadth is impressive without becoming shallow; the text is engaging and comprehensible. Highly recommended." - Ken Ramshøj Christensen, Aarhus University, Denmark"This edition of Trevor Harley’s introduction to psycholinguistics retains its broad coverage of the science of language, and infuses it with new material that enhances our appreciation of how contemporary tools and findings color the mix of evolving theory and experiment. Harley examines not just how language use can be studied, but what that study can be used for. It’s a timely synthesis, well executed and accessible." - Merrill Garrett, University of Arizona, USA"Trevor Harley has yet again revised his very successful textbook on psycholinguistics in light of new research. The coverage of this work is quite remarkable and it constitutes the ideal resource for advanced undergraduate students, postgraduate students and researchers interested in the field. He extensively discusses theoretical developments and experimental studies that are leading to the transformation of this field of enquiry." - Martin Pickering, University of Edinburgh, UKPraise for previous editions: "It is comprehensive, covering all aspects of psycholinguistics ... As such it is an excellent companion to an undergraduate speech and language therapy degree course, interlinking modules of study into a cohesive whole. It would also be an accessible reference resource for practising therapists." - Kathy Jones-Williams, in Speech & Language Therapy in Practice"I want this book for me, not just for my students. For the student, it's an exceptionally thorough, but lively, introduction to language use in a wider context. For me, it's a valuable reminder of psycholinguistics's evolution from its concerns with the psychological reality of grammar, to its current spot at the center of modern cognitive neuroscience." - Gary S. Dell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,USA"Trevor Harley provides a systematic and lucid introduction to the scientific study of human language use. He traverses a complex range of topics from foundational theory and experiment to practical matters of pedagogy and pathology. It's a winning combination delivered with wit, balanced accuracy, and admirable directness of style." - Professor Merrill Garrett, Psychology Department, University of Arizona, USA"Harley’s book offers an excellent means of enhancing our understanding of language. It provides a clear, comprehensive and thorough review of the current state of play in psycholinguistics, making it an ideal choice for advanced undergraduate and graduate students." - Annukka Lindell, University of Wales, Bangor, UK"Harley has thoroughly revised his very successful textbook on psycholinguistics in light of new research. The coverage of this work is quite remarkable and it constitutes the ideal resource for advanced undergraduate students, postgraduate students and researchers interested in the field." - Martin Pickering, University of Edinburgh, UK