• Part 1: The Problem of Language Learning. Out of the Mouths of Babes. How Do Children Learn Language? Language-Learning Across the Globe. Language-Learning by Hand. Does More or Less Input Matter? Part 2: Language Development without a Language Model. Background on Deafness and Language-Learning. How Do We Begin? Words. The Parts of Words. Combining Words Into Simple Sentences. Making Complex Sentences out of Simple Ones: Recursion. Building a System. Beyond the Here-And-Now: The Functions Gesture Serves. How Might Hearing Parents Foster Gesture Creation in Their Deaf Children? Gesture Creation Across the Globe. Part 3: The Conditions that Foster Language and Language-Learning. How Do the Resilient Properties of Language Help Children Learn Language? When Does Gesture Become Language? Is Language Innate? The Resilience of Language. References. Author Index. Subject Index.

'This book is interesting, well written and easy to read. I recommend it highly to all students and researchers who are interested in gesture.' - Sandra Smith, Deafness & Educational International'The data described...inform the study of language acquisistion generally, as well as contributing immensely to the understanding of language and communication in exceptional circumstances. ... It will appeal to those with an interest in language development or with a specific interest in communication and hearing impairment. it would also complement the core texts for any course on language development, and its accessible style should appeal to a wide readership.' - Dr Fiona Lyddy, in The Irish Psychologist, May 2006.