The study of child language acquisition is concerned with how children grow up to be proficient users of their native language(s). Language is a highly complex system at the core of human cognition and social interaction that most children acquire seemingly effortlessly. Child language researchers use a range of formal and psycholinguistic research methods to identify the factors at play in language development.

This specialisation will offer you deep insight into what language is and how children acquire it. You’ll explore ways that children learn language, understand how to systematically study language acquisition, and develop effective communication skills for presenting scientific findings on child language development. The specialised knowledge gained in both theory and practice will allow you to develop an accurate appreciation for the many similarities and differences between children learning one or more languages.

Key Features

• You’ll study in the most diverse and largest linguistics department in Australia, and in one of the best-equipped research and clinical environments in the world.
• Your teachers are part of the country’s largest child language acquisition research team.
• Your learning will be enhanced by our outstanding health precinct facilities, including the Australian Hearing Hub, the MQ Health Speech and Hearing Clinic, and translation and interpreting labs.
• This specialisation is available in the Bachelor of Linguistics and Language Sciences – the only standalone linguistics degree in Australia.
• Macquarie is ranked among the top 100 in the world in linguistics (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2018).

• Academic
• Child advocate
• Early childhood education adviser
• Policy analyst
• Public health adviser
• Researche