The Psychology of Language: From Data To Theory - Softcover

Harley, Trevor A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0863773826 ISBN 13: 9780863773822

Publisher: Psychology Press, 1995

Synopsis

Psycholinguistics, the study of the psychology of language, studies how we speak, read, remember, learn and understand language. This textbook examines each of these aspects of language in detail. It emphasizes how data from a number of sources are used to generate theories of language performance. In addition to conventional psychology experiments, it emphasizes the cognitive neuropsychology of language by showing how studies of the effects of brain damage on linguistic performance can inform our understanding of intact language processing. The book also examines in depth the impact of influential connectionist modelling. It also provides an integrative overview of how the components of the language system combine together. The text begins with the input side of language, and then covers the dyslexias. Moving on from how we understand single words, the book then examines how we process and remember phrases and sentences, how sentences are connected to form discourse, and how we represent the meaning of language. There is a detailed review of brain-damaged speech and language, and developmental issues are covered. Finally, the book places language in a wider context: is language unique to humans? Does language influence the way we think?

About this title

About the Author

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.

Review

"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, UK

Praise 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

Edition details

• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0863773826
• ISBN 13: 9780863773822
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 496