Naslov
Effect of demographic factors on the lexical development of 2-year-old children growing in Croatia, Estonia and Finland

Autori
Kuvač Kraljević, Jelena ; Blaži, Antonija ; Stolt, Suvi ; Schults, Astra ; Tulviste, Tiia

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
The International Association for the Study of Child Language (IASCL)

Mjesto i datum
Philadelphia (PA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 15.07.2021. - 23.07.2021

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
CDI ; Language development ; Gender ; Birth order ; Parental education

Sažetak
Numerous studies have been trying to define the cause of individual variations in language development, assuming that specific factors have a stronger impact on language acquisition. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of three factors: gender, birth order and mother/father education on expressive vocabulary size and syntactic development at the age of two in three languages: Croatian, Estonian and Finnish. The specific objectives are: what is the relation between vocabulary size and ability to combine words and how are these variables associated with three demographic factors. Cross-sectional data were obtained using the short form of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI) in each of three languages. 351 children (Croatian: N=104 ; Estonian: N=141 ; Finnish: N=106) at the age of 24 months were included. There are no statistically significant differences among languages in vocabulary size and in percentage of children who combine words. Results showed significant gender differences in vocabulary size (Z = -4.57, p < 0.001) and in ability to produce sentences (χ2 = 14.67, p < .001), in favor of girls. Spearman's rho confirms significant relation between vocabulary size and ability to combine (rS = .71, p < .001). Both dependent variables correlate significantly with gender (rS = .24, p < .001 for vocabulary size and rS = .19, p < .001 for word combining) but not with other factors. Children have similar vocabulary size and they are equally able to combine words in all three languages at the age of 24 months. Girls have bigger vocabulary than boys and they are more successful in word combining. The MB-CDI represents a valid tool for cross-linguistic studies which in turn complement description of language development trying to distinguish the language universality from language specificity and to explain the role of various factors on individual differences.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Logopedija

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