This article discusses the importance of vocabulary in second language acquisition (SLA), presents an overview of major strands of research on vocabulary acquisition, and discusses five principles for effective second language (L2) vocabulary instruction based on research findings on lexical input processing. These principles emphasize…

An analysis is made of the gradual learning process through which a child becomes bilingual from early infancy. (NCR)

Suggests that disadvantaged children may be verbally illiterate but have a high degree of visual literacy. Work with visual signs, compositions, and experiences through the child's use of a camera seems to improve the child's verbal development and also may improve his written composition. Bibliography. (RW)

A longitudinal study examining the role of imitation on children's lexical acquisition is discussed here. Findings did not support the view that imitation may enable new lexical items to be acquired, and it is noted that other functions of imitation in language acquisition should be explored. (CHK)

Explored the interplay between gestures and words in the early vocabulary of 12 normally developing Italian children at 16 and 20 months of age. Focused on spontaneous production of verbal and gestural types and tokens to assess the diversity and semantic content of the verbal and gestural vocabularies. Results indicated that gestures were used…

Examined phonological short-term memory and new word learning in 5-year olds. Found that learning sound structures of new words was significantly, and to some degree independently, associated with aspects of phonological memory skill and vocabulary knowledge. Learning of familiar word pairs was linked with current vocabulary knowledge, not with…

Describes classroom action research with the verbal-visual word association strategy. Explores the strategy with a group of junior high and high school students on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana. Shares interpretative impressions and results of a vocabulary quiz given to the high school group. (RS)

In individual sessions, 51 kindergartners listened to an adult read the same storybook twice, 2 to 4 days apart, and then completed a test of knowledge of unfamiliar words from the study. Findings confirm that story listening contributes modestly to vocabulary growth, although four exposures to words appear necessary. (SLD)

The effects of a book reading technique called interactive book reading on the language and literacy development of 4-year-olds from low-income families were evaluated. Teachers read books to children and reinforced vocabulary in the books by presenting objects that represented the words and providing opportunities to use the words. (BF)

The Word Meaning section of the Metropolitan Readiness Test, Form A, was questioned as a true measure of the capabilities of culturally disadvantaged children. Therefore, an attempt was made to compare the Metropolitan Reading Readiness Test with a test in which as many objects as possible were renamed to coincide with the language of the students…

This software product teaches vocabulary development to 8- to 14-year-old students. The software may be used without the printed teaching guide, but educators will appreciate the added dimension and greater convenience that the lesson plans provide. Along with the 12 lesson plans are worksheets, templates, and other materials needed to complete…

The controlled vocabulary method of reading instruction (popular in the 1950's and 60's in the Dick and Jane basic reading series) had many inherent and numerous strong points. As with all beginning reading instruction methods, including the Big Book, heterogeneous reading group, holism, phonics, library book, and constructivist methods,…

Twenty language-delayed children (age three to six) viewed a presentation incorporating object, action, attribute, and affective state words into a narrative script. In pre- and postviewing word comprehension measurements, subjects scored lower than children matched for chronological age and children matched for mean length of utterance.…

A child with chronic otitis media with effusion solved the problem of reduced and fluctuating auditory input with phonological selection and avoidance strategies that capitalized on prosodic cues. Findings illustrate the need to consider interactions among performance, input, and linguistic constraints to explain individual variation in language…

A study of two year olds investigated the nature and development of children's early productivity with verb-argument structure and verb morphology. Results indicated that the children showed no signs of productive verb morphology, but they did use newly learned verbs in some creative ways involving nounlike uses and the appending of locatives.…