Publisher's Synopsis
The ability to analyze transcripts of child language with the help of computers has provided researchers with a means for conducting analyses which were previously too difficult or time-consuming to perform. This edited volume offers examples of such research in action as well as tutorials for the creative application of the tools provided by the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES). In so doing, it achieves two goals: * the presentation of original research across a wide variety of areas within child language, and * the education of students and researchers about how to use the tools provided by CHILDES. The research topics are presented in a clear and easy to understand fashion accessible to both advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The book should also be of interest to seasoned child language researchers interested in acquiring in-depth knowledge about computer analyses of child language transcripts. Several design features highlight the pedagogical intent of the volume: * Each chapter begins with an outline of the skills readers should expect to learn within the chapter. * Computer commands are presented and explained in numbered command boxes. * The text is peppered with special hints that provide readers with additional information. * Materials are provided for readers to replicate the analyses performed in each chapter. * Each chapter includes a set of exercises and suggested projects. The transcript data and CLAN programs may be purchased separately. All transcription data referred to in the exercises in the book are included on a disk. (**One disk will be provided free to adopters.) For information on the CLAN programs, please see listing under MacWhinney.
