Wie Kinder sprechen lernen

Children's language development can provide astonishing insights into how the nature of humans and their uniqueness in the animal kingdom are determined by their linguistic abilities. When children begin to make their world their own through words, adults also have new experiences in their own use of language and with themselves. The book follows a biographical, comparative, narrative approach that incorporates research findings from a wide range of disciplines. It includes moving stories of children with speech impairments, deaf children, autistic children, and gifted children who shed light on language acquisition from an unusual perspective. The most important advice for successful language acquisition is summarized in an easy-to-understand way in a short 'pedagogy for parents.' The book also shows how language makes people human, gives them the freedom to think, and thus imposes moral responsibility.

For the fourth edition, the work has been revised and a chapter on mutism, the silencing of children who are already speaking, has been added. New findings have been incorporated into the authors' assessment of the influence of media consumption on children's language development.

Comments on the book:

'If only all scientific books were written in such a reader-friendly, relaxed, and exciting way as this exemplary, excellently edited book!'

'I have hardly read any other specialized book on the topic of language in recent years with similar, lasting interest, even enthusiasm in places - you can't expect more from a book.'

'[The authors] expand on the everyday and normal in the development of children's language in their book, without losing their fascination and amazement. Anyone who delves into this book, which is easy, will find more than the simple title suggests.'.