ERIC Number: EJ1320701
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Nov
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Repetition versus Variability in Verb Learning: Sometimes Less Is More
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v64 n11 p4235-4249 Nov 2021
Purpose: This study examined whether 2-year-olds are better able to acquire novel verb meanings when they appear in varying linguistic contexts, including both content nouns and pronouns, as compared to when the contexts are consistent, including only content nouns. Additionally, differences between typically developing toddlers and late talkers were explored. Method: Forty-seven English-acquiring 2-year-olds (n = 14 late talkers, n = 33 typically developing) saw scenes of actors manipulating objects. These actions were labeled with novel verbs. In the varied condition, children heard sentences containing both content nouns and pronouns (e.g., "The girl is ziffing the truck. She is ziffing it!"). In the consistent condition, children heard the verb an equal number of times, but only with content nouns (e.g., "The girl is ziffing the truck. The girl is ziffing the truck!"). At test, children were shown two new scenes and were asked to find the novel verb's referent. Children's eye gaze was analyzed as a measure of learning. Results: Mixed-effects regression analyses revealed that children looked more toward the correct scene in the consistent condition than the varied condition. This difference was more pronounced for late talkers than for typically developing children. Conclusion: To acquire an initial representation of a new verb's meaning, children, particularly late talkers, benefit more from hearing the verb in consistent linguistic contexts than in varying contexts.
Descriptors: Verbs, Learning Processes, Eye Movements, Nouns, Form Classes (Languages), Context Effect, Language Acquisition, Toddlers, Task Analysis, Object Manipulation, Comparative Analysis, Vocabulary Development, Listening, Speech Communication, Delayed Speech, Familiarity, Cues
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS); National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1748826; R01DC016592