The basic questions addressed in this book are: what is the computational nature of cognition, and what role does it play in language and other mental processes?; What are the main characteristics of contemporary computational paradigms for describing cognition and how do they differ from each other?; What are the prospects for building cognition and how do they differ from each other?; and what are the prospects for building an artificial intelligence? The text features previously unpublished contributions from some of the leading researchers in cognitive science and artificial intelligence. It also addresses important issues about the nature of cognition and describes approaches to modelling cognition at a level that is accessible to introductory students.