Introduction to Speech, Language and Literacy is written for Australian and New Zealand students studying education, speech pathology and linguistics, fields with a strong focus on communication. This book provides readers with a theoretical understanding of speech, language and literacy acquisition, and the ability to apply this understanding to individuals of different ages and developmental stages, including those who are developing typically and those with speech, language and literacy difficulties (e.g. as a result of structural or functional impairments such as hearing loss, social–pragmatic difficulties such as autism, or acquired conditions such as aphasia after a stroke). Throughout, indigenous people and languages of Australia and New Zealand are included, as well as people from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds. 

Sharynne McLeod is a Professor of speech and language acquisition at Charles Sturt University.

Jane McCormack is an Associate Professor and the discipline leader of the undergraduate and masters of speech pathology programs at Charles Sturt University.

Contributors

Elise Baker, PhD, Discipline of Speech Pathology, University of Sydney

Felicity Cox, PhD, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Catherine Easton, PhD, School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University

Katherine Demuth, PhD, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Sithembinkosi Dube, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Alison Ferguson, PhD, Speech Pathology Discipline, University of Newcastle

Suze Leitão, PhD, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University

Frédérique J. Liégeois, PhD, University College London Institute of Child Health, London

Noella M. Mackenzie, EdD, School of Education, Charles Sturt University

Sarah Masso BAppSc(SpPath)(Hons), Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education, Charles Sturt University

Sarah H. McDonagh, PhD, School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University

Karla McGregor, PhD, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa

Kelly Miles, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Angela Morgan, PhD, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne

Natalie Munro, PhD, Speech Pathology Department, University of Sydney

Lyndsey Nickels, PhD, ARC Centre of Excellence for Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University

Janet Scull, PhD, Faculty of Education, Monash University

Karen Smith-Lock, PhD, ARC Centre of Excellence for Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University

Elizabeth Spencer, PhD, Speech Pathology Discipline, University of Newcastle

Rosalind Thornton, PhD, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

Ekaterina Tomas, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University