Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
06:15
Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
Published on: October 3, 2018
Emergence of syntax: commonalities and differences across children.
Marina Vasilyeva1, Heidi Waterfall, Janellen Huttenlocher
1Lynch School of Education, Boston College, USA. vasilyev@bc.edu
Developmental Science
|January 4, 2008
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Child language acquisition
- Developmental linguistics
- Socioeconomic factors in development
Background:
- Early syntactic development is crucial for language proficiency.
- Socioeconomic status (SES) may influence child development.
- Understanding disparities in language acquisition is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally examine syntactic skill development in children.
- To investigate the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on early sentence production.
- To differentiate SES effects on simple versus complex sentence acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design tracking children from simple to complex sentence emergence.
- Analysis of syntactic skills across different socioeconomic groups.
- Assessment of early mastery of basic and complex sentence structures.
Main Results:
- Children showed similar mastery of simple sentence syntactic rules across SES groups.
- Significant differences in complex sentence structure mastery emerged between SES groups.
- These SES-related differences in complex syntax were present early and persisted.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic status does not appear to affect early acquisition of basic syntactic rules for simple sentences.
- SES significantly impacts the development of complex syntactic structures in children.
- Findings suggest distinct developmental pathways for simple and complex sentence acquisition influenced by socioeconomic factors.
More Related Videos
05:35Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
Published on: April 19, 2017
10:11Portable Intermodal Preferential Looking (IPL): Investigating Language Comprehension in Typically Developing Toddlers and Young Children with Autism
Published on: December 14, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:24Components of Language
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:21The Nativist Approach
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...