"An excellent selection of the classic readings in the science of language development, one that I have dearly missed until now. It is a perfect set of background readings for students and researchers interested in the intellectual roots of the field." Steven Pinker, Harvard University, and author of The Language Instinct and Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language

"A well-chosen treasure-house of key readings. They provide a superb grounding for anyone studying child language." Jean Aitchison, University of Oxford

"This reader is a great addition to the field, bringing together some of the classic literature that has stimulated debate on the nature of language acquisition for years. Its depth and breadth, in both philosophical and linguistic approaches to the problem, ensure that this volume will soon be a classic itself." Katherine Demuth, Brown University

"An excellent collection of classic works, highlighting contributions taking a linguistic approach to the subject of language acquisition." Diane Lillo-Martin, University of Connecticut