Language acquisition research. A peek at the past: A glimpse into the future

As the title suggests, this final chapter attempts to place the Workshop on On-Line Methods in Children’s Language Processing and the papers in this volume in a historical context. First, there is a brief review of the 40-year history of research in language acquisition, including the late arrival of on-line methodology. Then the chapter emphasizes the questions now being addressed in current on-line research. Finally, the conclusion suggests desiderata with respect to future progress in our understanding of the development of both linguistic competence and linguistic performance.