Abstract

This book provides a unique and accessible insight into current research in different orthographies. While most research into reading and spelling has been conducted in English, this text presents cross-language comparisons to provide insights into universal aspects of reading development and developmental dyslexia in alphabetic and non-alphabetic languages. The book brings together contributions from a unique grouping of leading literacy researchers from around the world. It begins by examining the development of language skills in monolingual speakers of alphabetic and non-alphabetic languages, including sign language. The second section explores literacy acquisition in bilingual children learning to read in languages with different spelling-sound rules, including English, French, Greek, Welsh and Japanese. The third section is devoted to developmental dyslexia in monolingual and bilingual speakers of different languages. The final section explores the contribution of brain imaging to the study of impaired and unimpaired reading, giving an up-to-the-minute picture of how the brain deals with different languages and writing systems. This book will be of great use to advanced undergraduates and postgraduates who have an interest in language acquisition, reading and spelling as well as speech and language therapists, teachers and special educational needs professionals.