Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
Influence of age and native language on immediate verbal repetition
Angela N Burda1, Melissa Bradley-Potter, Jessi Dralle
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Northern Iowa, 230 Communication Arts Center, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0356, USA. angela.burda@uni.edu
Abstract:
Objectives of this quasi-experimental study were to assess whether age of listeners and native language of the speaker affected the accurate repetition of words, sentences, and utterances, including medical vocabulary. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 20 young adults and 20 older adults repeated 60 words and 30 sentences produced by native and nonnative English speakers. In Exp. 2, 30 young adults and 30 older adults repeated medically oriented utterances spoken by native and nonnative English speakers. Analysis showed that older adults had significantly lower repetition scores (accuracy) than the young adults on all tasks. Both groups had significantly higher repetition scores on items produced by native English speakers than nonnative English speakers. Investigations should focus on strategies which may aid native English speakers in understanding non-native English speakers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Language Development
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...
Language and Cognition
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Interference and Decay
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Elaborative Rehearsals
The effectiveness of...
Components of Language

