Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
06:48
Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
Spoken word classification in children and adults
Julia M Carroll1, Joanne M Myers
1Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom. j.m.carroll@warwick.ac.uk
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|August 28, 2010
Summary
Young children
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech Science
Background:
- Preschoolers often struggle with word classification despite proficient speech skills.
- Theories suggest word representation may rely on phonetic features over phonemes in early development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental progression from feature-based to phoneme-based word processing in children.
- To determine if word classification strategies are consistent across different tasks and stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Study 1 involved 120 three- to five-year-old children and 58 older children completing classification tasks assessing phonetic feature use.
- Study 2 included all children and an adult sample performing a nonword learning task.
Main Results:
- Children consistently grouped words with shared phonemes as similar.
- A tendency was observed for children to group words with shared manner of articulation, especially word-finally.
- Adults also demonstrated sensitivity to manner of articulation, with age-related increases in phonemic information use.
Conclusions:
- Children classify words based on shared phonemes and word-final manner of articulation.
- The reliance on phonemic information for word classification increases with age.
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...
01:27Language 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.
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
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...
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...
01:16Language
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
01:30Classification of Signals
In signal processing, signals are classified based on various characteristics: continuous-time versus discrete-time, periodic versus aperiodic, analog versus digital, and causal versus noncausal. Each category highlights distinct properties crucial for understanding and manipulating signals.
A continuous-time signal holds a value at every instant in time, representing information seamlessly. In contrast, a discrete-time signal holds values only at specific moments, often denoted as x(n), where...
A continuous-time signal holds a value at every instant in time, representing information seamlessly. In contrast, a discrete-time signal holds values only at specific moments, often denoted as x(n), where...