The influence of older siblings on the language environment of young children

Abstract

The language environment of 1–2‐year‐old children was examined (i) with mothers alone and (ii) with mothers and older siblings. The presence of older siblings reduced the amount of language mothers used, their responsiveness to younger children, and younger children's verbal contribution. More verbally able children were less affected. The presence of older siblings did not influence the linguistic interaction between mothers and younger children as measured by mean length of utterance and discourse functions. Nonetheless, there was more talk between mothers and older children than between mothers and younger children. Their language was more complex, more social/interactive, with more questions, answers and feedback and less commentary on behaviour, and made greater reference to people and events beyond those immediately present. These results indicate the extent to which aspects of mothers' and children's language are dependent on their context, raising problems when generalizing about the influence of a maternal register (motherese) on children's linguistic development. They also point to the need to consider second‐order effects; the presence of older siblings creates directly and indirectly an environment which is less sensitive but is also more stimulating and provides salient models of language which are developmentally more complex.