AbstractLinguistic expressions are produced through a multicomponent multistage process. This article describes the major components of the language‐production process and discusses issues of current research focus. General mechanisms of word and sentence production are described. This is followed by discussion of language production in conversation, different modes of production (written production, sign language, monitoring, bilingualism, aphasia, corpus research), and the relationship of language‐production mechanisms to other cognitive systems (eye movements, attention, memory, gesture), before ending with concluding thoughts.WIREs Cogn Sci2010 1 834–844This article is categorized under:Linguistics > Language in Mind and BrainPsychology > Language