ERIC Number: EJ905587
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Dec
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0010-0285
EISSN: N/A
Sources of Variability in Children's Language Growth
Huttenlocher, Janellen; Waterfall, Heidi; Vasilyeva, Marina; Vevea, Jack; Hedges, Larry V.
Cognitive Psychology, v61 n4 p343-365 Dec 2010
The present longitudinal study examines the role of caregiver speech in language development, especially syntactic development, using 47 parent-child pairs of diverse SES background from 14 to 46 months. We assess the diversity (variety) of words and syntactic structures produced by caregivers and children. We use lagged correlations to examine language growth and its relation to caregiver speech. Results show substantial individual differences among children, and indicate that diversity of earlier caregiver speech significantly predicts corresponding diversity in later child speech. For vocabulary, earlier child speech also predicts later caregiver speech, suggesting mutual influence. However, for syntax, earlier child speech does "not" significantly predict later caregiver speech, suggesting a causal flow from caregiver to child. Finally, demographic factors, notably SES, are related to language growth, and are, at least partially, mediated by differences in caregiver speech, showing the pervasive influence of caregiver speech on language growth. (Contains 6 figures and 9 tables.)
Descriptors: Syntax, Parent Child Relationship, Language Acquisition, Longitudinal Studies, Vocabulary Development, Correlation, Individual Differences, Socioeconomic Status, Prediction, Role, Speech Communication, Infants, Young Children, Toddlers, Child Language
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A