Introduction to Basic Functions of Language , Reading , and Reading Disability

The past decade has seen enormous growth in our knowledge of the basic functions of language processing as well as their disorders. Theoretical, behavioral and neurophysiological, as well as neuroanatomical studies have helped to advance our knowledge in the field. On the one hand, the development of different methodologies and their application to the investigation of normal and impaired language processing has lead to new insights into the underlying mechanisms. On the other hand, it appears that novel data have forced the reconceptualization of some of the existing views. The selection of the chapters in the present book was intended to provide a broad overview of the most relevant, sometimes controversial, issues and theories discussed in the field of language and language disorders. A particular emphasis is given to reading and reading disabilities since this research domain has received considerable attention during the recent years. Papers on lexical and syntactic processes in the adult and the developing language system provide complementary information necessary to create an adequate picture of the basic mechanisms of language. The picture we present in this book is by no means complete. However, it sketches the most important aspects of the system under investigation.