Talking the Talk: Language, Psychology and Science

Talking the Talk provides a comprehensive introduction to the psychology of language, written for the reader with no background in the field or any prior knowledge of psychology. Written in an accessible and friendly style, the book answers the questions people actually have about language; how do we speak, listen, read, and learn language? The book advocates an experimental approach, explaining how psychologists can use experiments to build models of language processing. Considering the full breadth of psycholinguistics, the book covers core topics including how children acquire language, how language is related to the brain, and what can go wrong with it. Fully updated throughout, this edition also includes a new chapter on bilingualism and new coverage of AI and the rise of ChatGPT. Talking the Talk is written in an engaging style that does not hesitate to explain complex concepts. It is essential reading for all undergraduate students and those new to the topic, as well as the interested lay reader.