One of the most remarkable feats of childhood is the child's ability to learn a first language. This course will examine how children accomplish this task. We will focus on a wide range of empirical studies and theoretical analyses examining typical and atypical language development, with special focus on word meanings and syntax. Other topics include infant speech perception, pragmatics, bilingualism, language disorders, and language and thought. The format is a mixture of lecture and discussion. Students will be expected to contribute to class discussion, write a term paper, and make a presentation.