Articles tagged with Language Acquisition
A large study has found that parents are not to blame for late talking toddlers, as environmental and neuro-developmental factors play a greater role in language emergence. Children with siblings or family history of late talkers are at higher risk, while education, income, and mental health have no impact.
Researchers have developed virtual peers that can interact with children, helping them develop language and literacy skills. The virtual playmates engage in collaborative storytelling and are capable of adapting to individual children's needs.
Recent pre-K study shows significant improvements in reading, writing, and spelling abilities. Early Head Start participants exhibit enhanced family support for children's learning, social-emotional development, and health. The programs benefit disadvantaged children and Hispanic youth.
Researchers discovered a genetic duplication of 27 genes on chromosome 7, which affects language abilities. The study's findings provide insight into the cause of specific language impairment and may lead to new treatments.
A study conducted by George Hollich and colleagues found that moderate background noise can distract infants from learning language, emphasizing the need for visual cues. The research showed that when infants could see a speaker's face while hearing them speak, they focused longer on the spoken word.
The study investigates individual differences in language development among 4.5-year-old twins, finding that genetic and environmental influences shape both average and low-ability language skills. The results suggest a shared role of genetics and environment in shaping language abilities in boys and girls.
A new IU study supports the theory of a sensitive period for optimal language development during early childhood. Children who received cochlear implants earlier in life showed faster language gains and better speech perception skills compared to those who received implants later.
Linguist Valteir Martins reconstructs the sound structure and lexicon of Proto-East-Maku, an ancient language of the Brazilian Maku people. The language is genetically related to the Arawak languages, challenging earlier claims that the Maku Indians were the first inhabitants of the Amazon region.
Research by Heather Bortfeld shows that babies can discern the beginnings and endings of words that follow their names, providing a foundation for learning language. By using familiar words like their names, babies can anchor their early learning of other word forms and tap into the process at an earliest stage possible.
The Internet has led to a renaissance in informal writing, with online diaries and blogs increasing expressive range. Professor Crystal argues that concerns about language deterioration are misplaced, as new technology has increased informality in writing.
Researchers found that children of working mothers with nonstandard schedules performed worse on cognitive tests, despite controlling for environmental factors. The type of care children receive during these hours may be a key factor in this effect.
A recent study by Krakow compared infants and toddlers adopted from China, finding that the younger the child is when adopted, the sooner they are likely to become age-appropriate in English. The study highlights the importance of identifying factors leading to variation in language development among internationally adopted children.
Brain imaging studies identify differences in left/right dominance linked to language problems, distinguishing them from autism. Language impairment is strongly associated with a larger right-sided Broca's area.
Researchers found that autistic boys with normal language capabilities have a typical brain organization, while those with language problems exhibit similar brain changes as non-autistic boys with Specific Language Impairment. The study supports the idea that autism and SLI are disruptions in neurodevelopment and neurobiology.
Researchers studying Nicaraguan Sign Language found that children give language its most fundamental features by learning it, contradicting theories of hard-wired blueprints. Children turn simple gestures into a true language through their own experimentation and improvement.
A UCLA/UA study reveals that the ear plays a crucial role in processing auditory signals, influencing speech and language development. The left ear provides extra amplification for tones like music, while the right ear enhances rapid sounds like speech.
Researchers at the University of Warwick analyzed French trade cards to understand consumer habits, social values, and advertising techniques during the 18th century. The study revealed how trade cards seduced people into buying goods by showing beautiful displays and suggesting exclusivity.
Researchers found that infants as young as five months detect subtle differences in object fit and space description between Korean and English languages. This suggests that humans have pre-existing concepts before acquiring language, which may influence the way we categorize objects and events.
Research published in Journal of Multilingual Communication Disorders reveals that adopted Chinese children develop English language skills comparable to those of native-born peers. By age two, most children showed no evidence of delay and some had larger vocabularies.
Researchers found bilingual children outperform monolingual peers in cognitive tasks and show significant improvement in reading skills with just a few months of practice. This suggests that bilingualism can provide a cognitive edge and may lead to more effective therapies for speech and language disorders.
Purdue University's David Ertmer created an interactive website to monitor early speech development in children with hearing impairments. The site provides audio examples of baby jargon, such as babbling and squealing, to help parents recognize progress in their child's speech development.
Research suggests that exposure to constant white noise delays auditory organization in the brain of rats, which may have implications for human language development. The study found that the brains of noise-exposed rats took longer to develop and mature than those raised in normal conditions.
Researchers found that iron supplementation significantly improved motor and language development in rural African preschoolers, with benefits seen even in children with severe anemia. In contrast, anti-worm treatment had a small but non-significant positive effect on both motor and language development.
A study published in The Lancet found that recovering hand control after nerve damage involves a learning process similar to acquiring a second language. Researchers identified an optimal age range below 5-10 years for sensory relearning, followed by rapid decline and leveling out after puberty.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new method to study language development in Spanish-speaking populations, enabling early identification of hearing-impaired infants and providing effective interventions. The study involved over 130 Spanish-speaking children, showing positive effects on their subsequent language abilities.
A landmark CU-Boulder study confirms that early detection and intervention for infants with hearing loss has a significant positive impact on their subsequent language abilities. Infants identified within the first six months showed improved expressive vocabulary development compared to those identified after six months.
A major new study shows that good early child care helps rather than hinders infants' and toddlers' thinking and language development up to age 3. The research found that quality child care matters, even when other family variables are considered.
A twin study by Yale University psychologist J. Steven Reznick found that environment plays a greater role in how many words a child understands than genetic factors. The study also showed that language comprehension rather than spoken language at ages 14 and 20 months predicts intelligence test scores at 24 months.
A linguist documents the development of a sign language in Nicaraguan deaf children, revealing that early exposure to language is crucial for its emergence. The study confirms theories that language is an innate human trait with minimal input triggering expression.