The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World was officially launched at the International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association (ICPLA) Conference in June 2025.
The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World, edited by Charles Sturt University Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod, marks a major shift in global speech development research.
Challenging English and Western-centric traditions, the Handbook honours diverse linguistic knowledge systems, including those that have never been translated into English. It gives equal status to First Nations, marginalised and dominant languages.
Written by 173 scholars from around the world, the 1,008-page volume features 80 chapters covering 49 languages and 27 dialects, alongside companion audio recordings and a Charles Sturt-hosted YouTube playlist offering summaries of multilingual children’s speech development in English and the language(s) of focus (e.g., Danish, Kurdish, Spanish, Slovak, Thai, Tok Pisin).
Launched at the 2025 International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association (ICPLA) Conference in Greece, the Handbook sets a new global benchmark in speech-language research, providing a consistent framework for cross-linguistic comparison and offering tools to help professionals support children’s speech development and language preservation in culturally respectful ways.
This publication is a powerful example of Charles Sturt University’s global research leadership in inclusive education and health. It exemplifies how respectful, collaborative and community-driven scholarship can drive meaningful change.
The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World, edited by Charles Sturt University Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod, represents a landmark contribution to inclusive, multilingual speech research. By decentring English and Western dominance in the field, the Handbook provides equitable recognition of Indigenous and traditionally marginalised languages. With more than 170 contributors from around the globe, it offers evidence-based tools and resources that are already informing practice across continents, enabling professionals to support children’s speech development in their home languages.
Research problem
Traditional research on speech development has been largely grounded in English-language norms and Western-centric frameworks, limiting its relevance to multilingual and non-Western populations. This gap in representation has created barriers for researchers, educators and speech-language professionals working with linguistically diverse communities.
Collaborators
The project brought together 173 authors from across the globe, with significant contributions from Charles Sturt University’s Children’s Voices Centre including: Professor Sharynne McLeod (Editor), Dr Helen L. Blake, Dr Suzanne C. Hopf, Associate Professor Sarah Verdon, Dr Kate Margetson, Holly McAlister and adjunct Charles Sturt authors: Associate Professor Kate Crowe, Dr Van H. Tran, Associate Professor Ben Pham The Handbook was published by Oxford University Press and officially launched at the International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association (ICPLA) Conference in Patras, Greece.
Outcomes
Beneficiaries
