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Language Use Contributes to Expressive Language Growth: Evidence From Bilingual Children
Author(s) -
Ribot Krystal M.,
Hoff Erika,
Burridge Andrea
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12770
Subject(s) - psychology , conversation , language development , vocabulary , linguistics , expressive language , language acquisition , vocabulary development , neuroscience of multilingualism , multilevel model , developmental psychology , communication , computer science , mathematics education , philosophy , neuroscience , machine learning
The unique relation of language use (i.e., output) to language growth was investigated for forty‐seven 30‐month‐old Spanish–English bilingual children (27 girls, 20 boys) whose choices of which language to speak resulted in their levels of English output differing from their levels of English input. English expressive vocabularies and receptive language skills were assessed at 30, 36, and 42 months. Longitudinal multilevel modeling indicated an effect of output on expressive vocabulary growth only. The finding that output specifically benefits the development of expressive language skill has implications for understanding effects of language use on language skill in monolingual and bilingual development, and potentially, for understanding consequences of cultural differences in how much children are expected to talk in conversation with adults.