ERIC Number: EJ1031510
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0305-0009
EISSN: N/A
Reciprocal Influences between Maternal Language and Children's Language and Cognitive Development in Low-Income Families
Song, Lulu; Spier, Elizabeth T.; Tamis-Lemonda, Catherine S.
Journal of Child Language, v41 n2 p305-326 Mar 2014
We examined reciprocal associations between early maternal language use and children's language and cognitive development in seventy ethnically diverse, low-income families. Mother-child dyads were videotaped when children were aged 2;0 and 3;0. Video transcripts were analyzed for quantity and lexical diversity of maternal and child language. Child cognitive development was assessed at both ages and child receptive vocabulary was assessed at age 3;0. Maternal language related to children's lexical diversity at each age, and maternal language at age 2;0, was associated with children's receptive vocabulary and cognitive development at age 3;0. Furthermore, children's cognitive development at age 2;0 was associated with maternal language at age 3;0 controlling for maternal language at age 2;0, suggesting bi-directionality in mother-child associations. The quantity and diversity of the language children hear at home has developmental implications for children from low-income households. In addition, children's early cognitive skills further feed into their subsequent language experiences.
Descriptors: Low Income, Language Acquisition, Child Language, Mothers, Parent Child Relationship, Correlation, Vocabulary Development, Cognitive Development, Receptive Language, Toddlers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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