Language Development Across the Lifespan

During their development, children acquire language as a complex system of rules and as a primary means of social communication. Language acquisition is a multifaceted process that has long fascinated researchers from various disciplines. Specific major tasks must be accomplished during each developmental phase: Infants process language input efficiently and continuously shape their speech capacities by articulating different vocalizations. During the toddler and preschool years, children move on to master the pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of their surrounding language, undergoing characteristic developmental sequences. Language skills are then expanded and applied throughout school age and adolescence in various situations, settings, and learning contexts. Language is crucial to overall development, academic success, and mental health. This article provides a chronological overview of the acquisition of the German language from infancy to adolescence; it highlights the importance of the various developmental steps over the lifespan and introduces the papers included in this special issue.