DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDERS: FROM PHENOTYPES TO ETIOLOGIES. Mabel L. Rice and Steven F. Warren (Eds.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 2004. Pp. ix + 410. $89.95 cloth.

The study of genetics and language disorders attempts to inform researchers and practitioners as to the possible genetic basis for a variety of language deficits. By studying specific subsets of children with disabilities and identifying the general phenotype (behavioral manifestations) with respect to linguistic skill, researchers attempt to establish a link between genetics and language ability. The present book is an edited compendium of research presented in the May 2002 Merrill Conference titled, “The Relationship of Genes, Environments, and Developmental Language Disorders: Research for the 21st Century.” Investigators in the fields of genetics, linguistics, and language disorders contributed chapters to this volume.