Child Language Research Articles

Inclusive Education through the Lens of Diversity: A Case Study in an Arts School with a Focus on Chinese Students

The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of a collaborative art project between a museum and a public school on the process of inclusion and involvement of Chinese children and their families. This qualitative study is based on 9 months of observation of Art-Based Project (ABP) activities in the school and the museum, as well as interviews with parents, museum technicians, and instructors. The findings imply that the assimilation paradigm causes family separation among immigrants, which may be one reason for the high dropout rate in this population. As a result, the first technique for including immigrant children is to assist their parents. The Tandem Project, which employs the arts education model developed by the school and the museum: ABP, and the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) included in this art project have a positive impact on Chinese children's language ability, participation in school activities, furthermore, children's inclusion and family involvement has been improved.

Mapping Early Brain-Body Interactions: Associations of Fetal Heart Rate Variation with Newborn Brainstem, Hypothalamic, and Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Functional Connectivity.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the body's physiology, including cardiovascular function. As the ANS develops during the second to third trimester, fetal heart rate variability (HRV) increases while fetal heart rate (HR) decreases. In this way, fetal HR and HRV provide an index of fetal ANS development and future neurobehavioral regulation. Fetal HR and HRV have been associated with child language ability and psychomotor development behavior in toddlerhood. However, their associations with postbirth autonomic brain systems, such as the brainstem, hypothalamus, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), have yet to be investigated even though brain pathways involved in autonomic regulation are well established in older individuals. We assessed whether fetal HR and HRV were associated with the brainstem, hypothalamic, and dACC functional connectivity in newborns. Data were obtained from 60 pregnant individuals (ages 14-42) at 24-27 and 34-37 weeks of gestation using a fetal actocardiograph to generate fetal HR and HRV. During natural sleep, their infants (38 males and 22 females) underwent a fMRI scan between 40 and 46 weeks of postmenstrual age. Our findings relate fetal heart indices to brainstem, hypothalamic, and dACC connectivity and reveal connections with widespread brain regions that may support behavioral and emotional regulation. We demonstrated the basic physiologic association between fetal HR indices and lower- and higher-order brain regions involved in regulatory processes. This work provides the foundation for future behavioral or physiological regulation research in fetuses and infants.

"HEGA": the Basque version of the PaBiQ parental questionnaire, for clinicians and educators working in the Basque multilingual environment.

In this paper, we investigate the relevance of using a parental questionnaire (HEGA) to gather information on children's language experience in Basque and early language development in order to better interpret language performance in that language. Both this questionnaire and use of language assessment in Basque are needed in the Basque Country, where multilingualism is well attested. The questionnaire was developed after the PaBiQ with additional questions meant to reflect the Basque context, notably its schooling linguistic model. The HEGA was administered to the parents of 186 bilingual children of the Northern Basque Country (age 4;2-9;1) whose language skills in Basque were assessed via a new test battery targeting different linguistic domains (HIGA). Several significant correlations were found between exposure to, and use of Basque and performance in lexical and morphosyntactic production and comprehension. Mixed-effect regression analyses revealed that language experience in Basque, and particularly the fact of being schooled entirely in Basque, were strong predictors of lexical and morphosyntactic outcomes. In contrast, phonological performance, as measured by nonword repetition, appeared to be less impacted by language experience in Basque. Finally, two children were identified as being at risk of language impairment, due to low language performance in Basque despite extended language experience. These results have important implications for clinicians and educators, in particular for detecting language difficulties in Basque-speaking bilingual children. They also show the need for assessing language abilities in Basque for children growing up in a solid Basque-speaking environment.

The impact of educational and medical systems on autistic children from multilingual American homes: A systematic review.

Research has found that autistic children can navigate multilingual schools and communities without harming their language skills or school success. However, they may encounter specific challenges within the United States, where educational and healthcare systems are insufficiently equipped to meet their needs. This review examined 46 US-based studies on the topic and findings reveal persistent deficit-based ideas about multilingualism and autism (e.g., professionals recommending that autistic students only speak and learn in English) accompanied by patterns of unequal identification of autism among multilingual children. These findings highlight issues of disproportionality and inadequate access to educational and healthcare resources. However, recent studies indicate that incorporating a child's native language in education not only enhances learning and behavioral outcomes but also boosts cognitive functions like problem-solving and planning. Taken as a whole, current research suggests that intentionally addressing linguistic diversity will allow educational and medical systems to better serve autistic children.

When is a word in good company for learning?

Although identifying the referents of single words is often cited as a key challenge for getting word learning off the ground, it overlooks the fact that young learners consistently encounter words in the context of other words. How does this company help or hinder word learning? Prior investigations into early word learning from children's real-world language input have yielded conflicting results, with some influential findings suggesting an advantage for words that keep a diverse company of other words, and others suggesting the opposite. Here, we sought to triangulate the source of this conflict, comparing different measures of diversity and approaches to controlling for correlated effects of word frequency across multiple languages. The results were striking: while different diversity measures on their own yielded conflicting results, once nonlinear relationships with word frequency were controlled, we found convergent evidence that contextual consistency supports early word learning. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The words children learn occur in a sea of other words. The company words keep ranges from highly variable to highly consistent and circumscribed. Prior findings conflict over whether variability versus consistency helps early word learning. Accounting for correlated effects of word frequency resolved the conflict across multiple languages. Results reveal convergent evidence that consistency helps early word learning.

Pre-pregnancy maternal obesity and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes in Latino infants.

This study explores the impact of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI on infant neurodevelopment at 24 months in low-income Latino families. It also investigates whether infant diet mediates this relationship. Latino mother-infant pairs (n = 163) were enrolled at 1 month post partum and were followed for 2 years, with assessments at 6-month intervals. Maternal pre-pregnancy anthropometrics were self-reported at baseline, and child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Diet quality of infants was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and HEI-Toddlers-2020 scores at multiple time points. Mediation and regression models that adjust for maternal factors were used to examine the associations. Pre-pregnancy BMI showed significant negative associations with child cognitive scores (β = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2 to -0.06, p < 0.001) and language scores (β = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2 to -0.03, p = 0.01) at 24 months. Infant HEI-2015 scores at 24 months partly mediated these associations, explaining 23% and 30% of the total effect on cognitive and language subscales, respectively. No specific dietary components in infants mediated the relationship, except for the total HEI-2015 score. Managing maternal obesity pre-pregnancy is crucial for improving infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially in low-income Latino families. Promoting healthy weight and enhancing infant diet quality can enhance neurodevelopment in these populations.

African American Language in Children’s Literature

The purpose of this study was to determine the most prevalent African American Language (AAL) phonological and grammatical features in slavery- and Civil Rights–themed children's literature. Seventy-six books were initially selected to determine if they used AAL in dialogue or in narration. Of the 76 books, only 39 included AAL. The 39 books were analyzed further to categorize the specific AAL features used. The results revealed that the reduction of the final g (e.g., thinkin’) was the most prevalent phonological feature. Moreover, phonological features were used more often in slavery-themed texts than in Civil Rights texts. Additionally, the most frequently used AAL grammatical features were negation tense markers (e.g., didn’t and neither) and subject-verb agreement ( he listen). Grammatical features of AAL appeared more often in slavery-themed texts than Civil Rights themed texts. Implications for practice include suggestions for selecting, evaluating, and reading the books from this study with students. Implications for research include investigating other AAL features in slavery- and Civil Rights-themed books, authenticating the storylines of slavery- and Civil Rights–themed books, and analyzing other books with AAL that do not use these themes.

Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of an Arabic version of the test of narrative language—second edition

BackgroundThe significance of narrative skills is evident due to their role in the development of language and their connection to significant social and academic skills. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Test of Narrative Language-Second Edition (TNL-2) for its use as a tool for the assessment of narrative language in Arabic-speaking Egyptian children. In a cross-sectional study design, the Arabic-translated version of the TNL-2 was administered to 200 typically developing Arabic-speaking Egyptian children ranging in age from 4 years to 15 years and 11 months for validation. The participants were categorized according to their age into ten groups and their scores were analyzed. Face validity was assessed by asking five expert phoniatricians to review the Arabic version of the TNL-2 and complete a questionnaire that assessed the test’s effectiveness in measuring different narrative skills.ResultsA statistically significant difference was found when comparing the TNL-2 scores among the age groups under study. In addition, there was a significant correlation between standardized Arabic language test scores and the total comprehension and total production subtests’ raw scores of the TNL-2. The test-retest reliability and inter-rater agreement demonstrated a high level of reliability and inter-rater agreement. Experts have reached a consensus that the Arabic version of the TNL-2 is capable of evaluating the primary microstructural and macrostructural components of Arabic narratives. Furthermore, it can provide insights into the overall narrative skills of Egyptian Arabic-speaking children.ConclusionThe Arabic-translated version of the TNL-2 demonstrated validity and reliability as an instrument for assessing narrative language comprehension and production skills in Arabic-speaking Egyptian children.

Testing the Continuum/Spectrum Model in Russian-Speaking Children With and Without Developmental Language Disorder.

Previously, Lancaster and Camarata (2019) showed that the continuum/spectrum model of the developmental language disorder (DLD) best explained the high heterogeneity of symptoms in children with DLD. We hypothesize that the continuum/spectrum approach can include not only children with DLD but also typically developing (TD) children with different timelines and patterns of language acquisition. This model can explain individual language profiles and deficits in children. We assessed language abilities in a group of Russian-speaking children with DLD aged 4-7 years (n = 53) and their age- and gender-matched peers without speech and language diagnoses (n = 53, TD). We evaluated the children's performance at four language levels in production and comprehension domains, using 11 subtests of the standardized language assessment for Russian: Russian Child Language Assessment Battery (RuCLAB). Using the k-means cluster method and RuCLAB scores, we obtained two clusters of children and analyzed their language performance in individual subtests. The analysis revealed that the two clusters of children both included DLD and TD participants: Group 1, with higher test scores (TD = 45, DLD = 24 children), and Group 2, with lower scores (TD = 8, DLD = 29). Children from Group 1 mostly had lower scores at one of the language levels, whereas those from Group 2 struggled at several language levels. Furthermore, children with DLD from both groups tended to be more sensitive to linguistic features such as word length, noun case, and sentence reversibility compared to TD children. The presence of two mixed groups shows that children with diagnosed DLD could perform on par with TD children, whereas some younger TD children could perform similarly to children with DLD. Our findings support the continuum/spectrum model: Linguistic skills in preschool children are a continuum, varying from high to poor skills at all language levels in comprehension and production. To describe a child's language profile, the tasks assessing all language levels should be used. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25521400.

Adding to the Conversation: Language Delays and Parent-Child Interactions in the Younger Siblings of Children With Autism.

In their first three years, children begin to maintain topics and add new information in conversation. In turn, caregivers create opportunities for language learning. Compared to children with no family history of autism (typical likelihood, TL), the younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at elevated likelihood (EL) for both ASD and language delays. This study asked: (1) Do profiles of spoken language and conversational skills differ across groups? (2) Does spoken language relate to conversational skills? and (3) How does parent speech relate to child spoken language and conversational skills? Child spoken language, conversational skills, and parent speech were examined during toy play at home with three-year-old TL (n = 16) and EL children with ASD (EL-ASD, n = 10), non-ASD language delay (EL-LD, n = 21), and no delays or diagnoses (EL-ND, n = 37). EL-ASD children produced fewer intelligible utterances, and EL-LD and EL-ASD children produced shorter utterances than TL and EL-ND children. When utterances were intelligible, all groups were highly contingent to the topic. EL-ASD children were less likely than all other groups to add new information, and adding new information was positively associated with utterance length. Parents of EL-ASD children had fewer opportunities to respond contingently. However, all parents were highly topic-contingent when child speech was intelligible, and parent speech complexity varied with child language and conversational skills. Findings highlight strengths in conversational skills for EL-ASD children during toy play with parents and show that children and caregivers together shape opportunities for developing language and conversation.

The longitudinal impact of pre- and postnatal maternal depression and anxiety on children's cognitive and language development.

We investigated the longitudinal associations among maternal pre- and postnatal depression, maternal anxiety, and children's language and cognitive development followed from 15 to 61 months. Furthermore, we assessed the protective role of children's early print experiences with books against the adverse effect of maternal depression on language development. Data for mothers and children (51.7% boys, 95% White, N = 11,662) were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Prenatal maternal depression held an adverse association with child language (β = -.16, p = .002). Moreover, the risk was greater for girls than boys (β = .19, p = .02). In addition, prenatal depression was significantly and negatively associated with child verbal intelligence quotient (β = -.11, p = .02) and performance intelligence quotient (β = -.12, p = .01). In contrast, postnatal depression or anxiety were not unique predictors of child outcomes. Importantly, children's early experiences with books, as measured by the reported frequency of parent-child shared reading, moderated the negative association between maternal depression and child language development (β = .30, p < .001). Although modest in size, these findings inform models of child risk and resilience related to maternal psychopathology. The results also have implications for clinical programs as well as for prevention and intervention studies focusing on at-home early literacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Editorial: The impact of tracheostomy on spoken language in children: a narrative review

Editorial: The impact of tracheostomy on spoken language in children: a narrative review

EFFECTIVENESS OF CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SINGING METHOD IN EARLY CHILDREN AT AT-TAQWA ISLAMIC KINDERGARTEN

Singing activities are one of the methods used in early childhood education. This basic idea is how singing activities influence cognitive and language development. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of the singing method for cognitive and language development in early childhood. The research was conducted at At-Taqwa Islamic Kindergarten, Rawamangun, East Jakarta, with a sample size of 12 children and 1 class teacher. The research was conducted in May 2023. The research method used was a qualitative method, where researchers made observations of students in class and interviews with class teachers. The research results show that the singing method effectively develops cognitive and language abilities in early childhood. This result is proven by the observations that students at At-Taqwa Islamic Kindergarten meet the Child Development Achievement Level Standards. Interviews between researchers and class teachers also strengthened the research results that around 80-90 per cent of students had clear and good articulation in the language aspect through singing activities. Then, in the cognitive aspect, students can think logically, solve problems, and learn good symbolic thinking through singing and other supporting methods. Stimulation of language and cognitive development in children still needs to be continued and improved by teachers at school and parents at home. There needs to be good cooperation between the family and the school environment in helping children to achieve optimal development.

Early language intervention and IQ of children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts

Introduction Children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts are at higher risk for developmental difficulties. Speech and language as commonly affected developmental domains in these children.ObjectivesThe aim of the current study was to explore the effects of early interventions for speech and language on later cognitive outcomes in this patient population.MethodsA combined retrospective/prospective-comparative study was carried out at the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Pécs in Hungary. The participants were children between 6 and 16 years of age. The study consisted of a self-designed demographic questionnaire and an IQ test (WISC-IV).ResultsA total of 41 children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts and 44 age-matched controls participated in the study. Children of the cleft group were examined by pedagogical professional services and required special education plans significantly more often than controls (p&lt;0.001 and p=0.02, respectively). Participants of the cleft group who received early speech and language therapy score higher on the Verbal Comprehension Index (p=.005). Full-Scale IQ score was also higher for cleft participants who received therapy, however not significant but borderline (p=0.08).ConclusionsEarly language and speech interventions for children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts may have a positive effect on verbal skills and overall cognitive development. Future longitudinal studies examining baseline cognitive functioning of infants are needed to provide more conclusive evidence on the effects of interventional programs on speech and language development in cleft patients.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

A Comprehensive Examination of Prediction-Based Error as a Mechanism for Syntactic Development: Evidence From Syntactic Priming.

Prediction-based accounts of language acquisition have the potential to explain several different effects in child language acquisition and adult language processing. However, evidence regarding the developmental predictions of such accounts is mixed. Here, we consider several predictions of these accounts in two large-scale developmental studies of syntactic priming of the English dative alternation. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study (N = 140) of children aged 3-9 years, in which we found strong evidence of abstract priming and the lexical boost, but little evidence that either effect was moderated by age. We found weak evidence for a prime surprisal effect; however, exploratory analyses revealed a protracted developmental trajectory for verb-structure biases, providing an explanation as for why prime surprisal effects are more elusive in developmental populations. In a longitudinal study (N = 102) of children in tightly controlled age bands at 42, 48, and 54 months, we found priming effects emerged on trials with verb overlap early but did not observe clear evidence of priming on trials without verb overlap until 54 months. There was no evidence of a prime surprisal effect at any time point and none of the effects were moderated by age. The results relating to the emergence of the abstract priming and lexical boost effects are consistent with prediction-based models, while the absence of age-related effects appears to reflect the structure-specific challenges the dative presents to English-acquiring children. Overall, our complex pattern of findings demonstrates the value of developmental data sets in testing psycholinguistic theory.

An Analysis of Figurative Languages Used in Disney Songs’ Lyrics by Naomi Scott and John Legend Featuring Ariana Grande

The research delves into the fascinating world of Disney songs and their use of figurative language, exploring how this impacts children's language skills and creativity. With the aim of closely analyzing three specific Disney songs, the study seeks to uncover how these beloved tunes effectively utilize different forms of figurative language to communicate important moral values. Through careful examination, the study identifies five key types of figurative language present in these songs: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and paradox. By taking a closer look at how Disney songs employ these various forms of figurative language to convey deeper messages that resonate with audiences, educators can gain valuable insights into using music as a powerful tool for facilitating language development and promoting moral understanding in young children. The study emphasizes the potential role that beloved Disney songs can play as effective educational tools for fostering greater comprehension of language and encouraging strong moral values among young audiences. Overall, this research serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of creative expression in education - demonstrating how even something as seemingly simple as a catchy tune can have profound impacts on children's cognitive and emotional development.

Формування мовленнєвої компетентності молодшого школяра: лексика війни

The article highlights the peculiarities of the formation of primary school children’s speech competence during the war. The war vocabulary is analyzed. It is noted that speech competence is an important component of the formation of a primary school children language identity. The attention is focused on the fact that children use military and war lexis actively, and this is not surprising, as Ukrainian children are children of war. It is proved that the formation of children's speech competence in the conditions of war is possible with careful work on the oral and written speech of schoolchildren. The peculiarities of the use of war words by primary schoolchildren in their oral and written speech was analyzed as well as war vocabulary in drawings and letters to the Ukrainian soldiers. The questionnaire revealed what words such children use in everyday communication, whether they know the meaning of these words, including new ones, and identified the most commonly used items and phrases. Most of them refer to Ukrainian soldiers, weapons, and equipment. The letters express appreciation and admiration for Ukrainian heroes and produce prayers for their safe lives. The children’s written speech is more controlled and restrained than their oral speech, but at the same time keeps childish emotions and spontaneity. In their oral speech, they use phrases familiar to all Ukrainians that have arisen since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, they know many songs, mostly “adult”, written during the years of 2022-23. These lexis and phraseology are a part of the vocabulary of a modern primary schoolchild and define the peculiarities of the speech of the children of war.

Analysis of Early Childhood Arabic Language Acquisition of The Komunitas Anak Shalih Based on CEFR

Early age is a golden opportunity for children; therefore, early age is called the golden age for children. At this age, the child has extraordinary abilities, so it is good to be developed optimally. It is the golden age for the child to learn and acquire the language without neglecting other aspects. This is done in Komunitas Anak Shalih Tanjung Morawa. While in the Komunitas Anak Shalih, early childhood children at the educational institution are familiarised with hearing the names of objects and conveying them using Arabic. But in the acquisition of Arabic, they do not have a framework standardisation as a reference. Let's call it one of the CEFR. This study will answer questions related to the process of acquiring Arabic for early childhood in the Komunitas Anak Shalih and their speaking skills according to CEFR levels. This study uses a qualitative naturalistic approach using an embedded case study design model or case study. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews, and documentation, with data analysis to reduce data, present data, draw conclusions, and verify. The results found that early childhood language acquisition in the Komunitas Anak Shalih used behaviourism theory, and their speaking skills were at the rudimentary A1 level (PreA1) based on the CEFR.

The Effect of Self-Efficacy on Digital Reading Platforms on Early Childhood English Language Development

Early childhood education is crucial in laying a solid foundation for children's language and literacy development. In an era where digital technology is increasingly pervasive in daily life, it is important to understand how digital reading platforms can influence young children's language development. This study aims to explore the relationship between children's self-efficacy in using digital reading platforms and their English language development. Qualitative research methods were employed, collecting data through participatory observation and interviews with parents and early childhood educators. The research sample consisted of 30 children (aged 4-6 years) who regularly use digital reading platforms in formal and informal learning environments. The results indicate a positive correlation between children's self-efficacy levels in digital reading platforms and their progress in understanding and using English. The practical implications of this research emphasize the importance of strengthening children's self-efficacy and selecting appropriate digital reading platforms to support young children's language and literacy development. This study provides valuable insights for educators, parents, and educational technology developers in designing effective learning strategies for young children in the digital age.

Learning Javanese Krama to Cultivate Children's Polite Attitudes

Javanese is a language commonly used in Javanese ethnic communities. Javanese is one of the regional languages ​​used in daily life by Javanese people for communication between people. Manners are not something that can be learned quickly. Etiquette takes a long time to master, especially when it comes to children's language literacy. Developing language politeness must start from an early age. The emphasis on teaching children is necessary to teach children the norms of politeness of their native culture. Local wisdom is considered to have great value because it is an idea that lives in people's minds and its values ​​are also used as a guide in actions, words and deeds. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research type and aims to find out whether learning Javanese at school can foster a sense of politeness in children from an early age. This research uses observation and interview methods. The results of this research are that children learn Javanese which can improve their manners. In this research, some children already have the manners that we want to examine, but there are also children whose manners have not yet developed. Children's learning about politeness is not only obtained through school, but parents also contribute to the growth of politeness values. From the results of this research, it is hoped that teachers and parents can provide more learning to children regarding politeness norms.