Lexico-Semantic Structure in Vocabulary and Its Links to Lexical Processing in Toddlerhood and Language Outcomes at Age Three
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| Title: | Lexico-Semantic Structure in Vocabulary and Its Links to Lexical Processing in Toddlerhood and Language Outcomes at Age Three |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Borovsky, Arielle |
| Source: | Developmental Psychology. Apr 2022 58(4):607-630. |
| Availability: | American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 24 |
| Publication Date: | 2022 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS) |
| Contract Number: | DC013638 DC018593 HD052120 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Toddlers, Semantics, Vocabulary Development, Language Processing, Language Acquisition, Child Development, Interference (Language), Language Tests, Preschool Children, Language Skills, Prediction, Eye Movements, Longitudinal Studies, Measures (Individuals), Infants, Auditory Stimuli, Visual Stimuli, Accuracy |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory, Bayley Scales of Infant Development |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dev0001291 |
| ISSN: | 0012-1649 |
| Abstract: | Toddlerhood is marked by advances in several lexico-semantic skills, including improvements in the size and structure of the lexicon and increased efficiency in lexical processing. This project seeks to delineate how early changes in vocabulary size and vocabulary structure support lexical processing (Experiment 1), and how these three skills together (vocabulary size, structure, and lexical processing) relate to later language outcomes at age 3 (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 explored how the size and semantic structure of toddlers' vocabulary from 18 to 24 months (N = 61) predicted performance on two lexical processing tasks (semantically related and semantically unrelated trials). Denser semantic connectivity (i.e., global level connectivity between near and far neighbors) positively associated with semantic interference during semantically related lexical processing, whereas denser category structure (i.e., lower-level connectivity between near neighbors) facilitated lexical processing in semantically unrelated trials. In Experiment 2, a subset of the same children (N = 49) returned at age 36 months and completed a comprehensive assessment of their language skills using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamental, Preschool 2 (CELF-P2). Here, earlier measures of lexico-semantic connectivity and lexical processing best predicted age 3 language skill. The findings support accounts that early vocabulary structure and lexical processing skills promote continued growth in language. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2022 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1333849 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Toddlerhood is marked by advances in several lexico-semantic skills, including improvements in the size and structure of the lexicon and increased efficiency in lexical processing. This project seeks to delineate how early changes in vocabulary size and vocabulary structure support lexical processing (Experiment 1), and how these three skills together (vocabulary size, structure, and lexical processing) relate to later language outcomes at age 3 (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 explored how the size and semantic structure of toddlers' vocabulary from 18 to 24 months (N = 61) predicted performance on two lexical processing tasks (semantically related and semantically unrelated trials). Denser semantic connectivity (i.e., global level connectivity between near and far neighbors) positively associated with semantic interference during semantically related lexical processing, whereas denser category structure (i.e., lower-level connectivity between near neighbors) facilitated lexical processing in semantically unrelated trials. In Experiment 2, a subset of the same children (N = 49) returned at age 36 months and completed a comprehensive assessment of their language skills using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamental, Preschool 2 (CELF-P2). Here, earlier measures of lexico-semantic connectivity and lexical processing best predicted age 3 language skill. The findings support accounts that early vocabulary structure and lexical processing skills promote continued growth in language. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0012-1649 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dev0001291 |
