Articles tagged with Language Acquisition
A University of Sussex study used an MRI scanner to investigate how adults learn new words. The research found that the hippocampus plays a key role in this process, allowing adults to remember word-object correspondences over time through a 'propose-but-verify' strategy.
A new toolkit helps identify bilingual toddlers who need extra support with their language development, potentially improving their personal and professional prospects. The tool, developed by the University of Plymouth, uses a list of familiar words and a questionnaire to assess a child's language proficiency.
Researchers propose that cave art may have played a role in the development of human language, citing acoustic properties and visual representations. The study suggests that early humans used sound echoes to convey symbolic thinking, which eventually led to the creation of language.
A team of researchers identified an algorithm called 'nearest-neighbor chaining' that describes how word senses accumulate over time. The study analyzed 1,000 years of English development and found that new word senses emerge through an efficient mechanism that expresses new ideas via a compact set of words.
Researchers found that back-and-forth conversations between adults and children significantly impact brain response to language and lead to better language skills. The study suggests that parents can influence their child's language development by engaging them in interactive dialogue, not just talking to them.
A novel machine learning algorithm using brain scans predicts language ability in deaf children after cochlear implant surgery. This study has broad implications for children with developmental challenges, enabling clinicians and educators to intervene with therapy to maximize language learning.
A recent study discovered a significant association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and an increased risk of language delay in girls. The research found that girls born to mothers who took more than six doses of acetaminophen were nearly six times more likely to experience language delays.
Researchers used magnetoencephalography to study brain processing in young children with autism and delayed language development. They found significant differences in magnetic mismatch fields, indicating altered recognition of change in emotional tones. This discovery may lead to earlier diagnosis and support for these children.
Researchers found that infants raised in homes with multiple accents recognize words differently than those exposed to single accents. The study suggests that children from diverse linguistic environments process language uniquely and highlights the importance of considering accent variation when studying speech development.
A new study of chimpanzee brain scans reveals a unique human brain structure, with the left hemisphere longer than the right. This asymmetry may hold the key to understanding how humans developed language ability.
Researchers studying a traditional population in the Bolivian Amazon found that Tsimane children spend less than one minute per hour talking to their parents, compared to ten times less than in Western countries. This variation highlights wide intercultural differences in language development.
The newly established Department of Bioengineering at Lehigh University is presenting its research at the annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) in Phoenix, Arizona. The department's faculty includes 17 members with academic appointments in bioengineering and an additional 17 affiliated members. Their research is s...
A new article suggests that bilingual children from low-income homes are at risk of falling behind their peers in developing language skills, leading to poorer academic performance. The research recommends community resources, parent training programs, and innovative technologies to foster language development in these children.
Researchers at University of Kansas have discovered that fetuses can discriminate between languages with distinct rhythmic properties, suggesting language development may start in the womb. The study uses magnetocardiogram technology to measure fetal heart rate responses to speech sounds, revealing an early sensitivity to language rhythm.
A large-scale study found that the evolution of word meanings in English metaphors follows a systematic and predictable pattern over the past 1100 years. The researchers identified key domains where word senses transitioned from literal to metaphorical meaning, including emotionality and embodiment.
A new study by Boston College researchers found that an after-school hydroponic gardening program increased positive attitudes towards science, reduced anxiety, and boosted self-confidence among elementary-age students. The program showed promise in engaging youths from underrepresented groups in the sciences.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University researchers finds that bilingual children's languages develop at different rates, reflecting the quality of their language exposure. Spanish skills become vulnerable as English skills improve, but English is not affected in the same way.
A recent study analyzes the words 'a' and 'the' to understand language acquisition, revealing that experience is crucial for early-childhood language development. The study found that children rapidly generalize grammatical structures they hear, with a significant increase in linguistic productivity around age 2.
Researchers tested automated approaches to analyze large linguistic datasets, finding that some methods detected cognates correctly with high accuracy. The study suggests a promising future for combining algorithms and expert knowledge to uncover human prehistory and cultural evolution.
A study from Northwestern University found that preterm infants establish a strong foundation for linking language and meaning, similar to their full-term counterparts. This discovery challenges previous obstacles in language and cognitive development observed in preterm infants.
UK toddlers show increased fine motor control when using touchscreens from a young age, with actively scrolling screens correlating to improved skill development. The study found no link between touchscreen use and language development or walking abilities.
Researchers found that Nheengatú speakers communicate time of day by pointing at the sun's position in the sky, similar to saying 'nine o'clock' in English. This practice shows that users of auditory languages can develop visual language like sign languages.
A NYU study found that a science curriculum designed for English language learners improves their science learning outcomes. The P-SELL intervention, which provides guidance for ELLs and supports teacher implementation, resulted in significant positive effects on students' science performance.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine presented new insights on the use of big data to discover personalized therapies for treating human illness. They also discussed the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, as well as a new technique to predict outcomes in patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
A University of Iowa study found that babies made more speech-like sounds during book reading than during puppet play or toy play, and mothers were more responsive to these sounds while reading. This interaction is crucial for language development in young children.
African-Americans and Latinos show deeper mistrust of physicians due to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Physicians must consider structural competency, including a patient's neighborhood, policies, and institutions, to provide better care.
A study by McGill University researchers reveals that early exposure to a language shapes the brain's ability to process sounds from a second language later in life. Brain imaging showed that children who were adopted into French-speaking families and no longer spoke Chinese still had brains processing language similarly to bilingual c...
The study reveals that both humans and monkeys have a common brain area that recognizes the orderliness of sound sequences, suggesting evolutionary origins of cognitive functions underlying language. This knowledge may help understanding how we learn and lose language, such as in aphasia after a stroke or dementia.
A cognitive model of artificial neurons has learned to communicate through dialogue with a human interlocutor, demonstrating the ability to express a wide range of capabilities in human language processing. The ANNABELL model uses synaptic plasticity and neural gating mechanisms to learn and adapt to new information.
Researchers found that children with mild to severe hearing loss have poorer language development than their peers, but provide well-fit hearing aids can help. Optimal early services enable hard of hearing children to catch up or close gaps with hearing peers.
A new analysis from Oregon State University reveals that students entering kindergarten with a strong grasp of academic language literacy are more likely to become proficient English speakers. Research suggests that building literacy skills prior to kindergarten can set students on a path to success.
Recent reports from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Resolution Foundation reveal that poor children will see their income substantially reduced, potentially leading to more poverty. Experts warn that these changes will have serious implications for child health, with potentially 600,000 children in poverty by 2016.
Researchers found that environmental and social factors shape participants' use of SOV vs SVO syntax when communicating events, with iconicity playing a key role. The study also showed that adapting to interlocutors' lead and frequent event types influence syntactic patterns.
Researchers studying 2-million-year-old human fossils from South Africa found that early hominins had hearing patterns resembling those of chimpanzees, but with slight variations. The discovery suggests that early humans may have had better hearing in certain frequency ranges than other primates.
Research on bilingual development in children provides conclusions that clinicians should know about assessment and advice. Clinicians can provide minority language-speaking parents with information on optimal English language development environments.
Researchers found that wild bonobos produce a call type called 'peep' across various emotional states and situations, showing contextual flexibility. This ability has evolutionary roots that predate the emergence of human language, suggesting an early transition from fixed vocal signalling towards functional flexibility.
Researchers discovered a biological test that can identify children with literacy challenges or learning disabilities long before they learn to read. The study found that pre-readers' brains inefficiently process speech against background noise, predicting future reading skills and language development.
A new study published in PLOS Biology has discovered a way to assess future literacy challenges in children. The research centers on the child's ability to decipher speech in a chaotic, noisy environment, and found that preliterate children with brain inefficiencies are more likely to struggle with reading and language development.
Researchers found that neural activity in language-sensitive brain regions in infants and toddlers with ASD was similar to normal in those who developed good language ability, but nearly absent in those with poor outcomes. The study's results have the potential to predict later language outcome by early childhood.
Researchers used fMRI to analyze brain activity in response to speech in ASD toddlers, finding distinct neural substrates for good and poor language outcomes. The study's findings may lead to more individualized treatments for the heterogeneous condition.
Human language likely developed quickly into a sophisticated system, featuring syntax and structures, according to MIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa. Words bear traces of syntax, challenging the idea that they originated from simple primal utterances.
Researchers found that tonal languages are more prevalent in humid climates, while simpler tone pitches dominate dry regions. The study suggests that humidity affects vocal fold elasticity and ion balance, making it easier to produce a wide range of tones.
Researchers found an association between physical aggression and language development in toddlers, but the link disappeared after 41 months. Affectionate parenting is associated with low aggression levels and good language development.
Children who attended full-day preschool had higher scores on measures of school readiness skills, increased attendance, and reduced chronic absences compared to children who attended part-day preschool. Full-day preschool was also associated with lower rates of parental involvement but no differences in cognitive development.
A Rutgers researcher trained 4-month-old babies to recognize important sound patterns, accelerating the development of their brain maps. This allowed them to process language more efficiently and accurately at 7 months old.
Researchers discovered that autism with early language delay is associated with smaller brain volume in key regions and larger brainstem structures. Current language function also impacts grey and white matter volume changes in specific brain areas.
Researchers discovered a genetic link between changes near the ROBO2 gene and the number of words spoken by children in early stages of language development. The study found significant association between genetic variations and expressive vocabulary in infancy, suggesting a strong role for genetics in early language skills.
A new study found that preschoolers with special needs are more influenced by their peers' language skills, particularly those with weak skills. Children with disabilities show stronger effects when surrounded by highly-skilled peers, improving their language skills over the course of the school year.
A new study by Ohio State University found that preschoolers with disabilities outperform their typical peers when included in the same classroom, especially those with highly skilled classmates. The results support inclusion policies and suggest that all preschoolers with disabilities would benefit from this approach.
A new study by researchers at the University of Chicago suggests that examining children's gestures at an early age can help identify those at risk for language and cognitive delays. The study found that early gesture can be used to diagnose language delays before they appear in speech, allowing for earlier interventions.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that toddlers can successfully learn novel verbs after hearing them only twice, as long as the verb is 'packaged' in a complete sentence. The study showed that presenting verbs in sentences with familiar nouns supports toddlers' abilities to apply the new words in novel contexts.
A new study published in Language presents a rigorous linguistic analysis that contradicts previous research on the origins of written language. The analysis suggests that popular statistical measures do not support the claim that certain symbol systems, such as the Indus Valley and Pictish symbols, are examples of written language.
Babies start combining gestures with speech at 11 months, producing deictic gestures like pointing and reaching to inform, not command. This coordination is crucial for future linguistic abilities.
Research found that boys are at greater risk for delayed language development than girls, with family reading and writing difficulties increasing the risk. The study also highlights the importance of early identification and enabling language environments to support children with delayed language development.
High-quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children can significantly improve cognitive and non-cognitive skills, leading to better academic performance and future success. Strong programs can help bridge the gap between skilled and unskilled individuals, ultimately reducing inequality and boosting productivity in society.
Research by Anne Fernald shows a significant gap in language development between rich and poor children emerges during infancy, with child-directed speech playing a crucial role. Infants who hear more child-directed speech develop greater efficiency in language processing and learn new words faster.
A new study by CU-Boulder researchers suggests that shy toddlers may not be delayed in language acquisition, contrary to common assumptions. The study found consistent evidence that shy toddlers understand what's being said, but are reticent to speak.
A new longitudinal study of 816 toddlers found that shy children understand language as well as their less shy peers but struggle to express themselves. The research suggests that interventions targeting confidence and social competence can support the development of expressive language in these children.
Researchers found that parents' use of exaggerated vowels and animated baby talk in one-on-one conversations with children is linked to better language development. Infants who heard more baby talk knew more words at 2 years old, on average, compared to those in families with less baby talk.
Research shows that speaking two languages can delay the onset of three types of dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia. The study found that people who spoke two languages developed dementia four and a half years later than those who only spoke one language.