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Relations among language exposure, phonological memory, and language development in Spanish-English bilingually
Marisol Parra1, Erika Hoff, Cynthia Core
1Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL 33314, USA. mparra3@fau.edu
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|September 11, 2010
Summary
Phonological memory in bilingual children shows a language-general component, correlating across languages. Early language exposure and phonological skills benefit bilingual language development in both Spanish and English.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Phonological memory is crucial for language acquisition.
- Bilingual language development involves complex interactions between languages.
- Understanding the interplay between phonological memory and language experience in bilinguals is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between phonological memory and language experience in early bilingual learners.
- To examine the language-general and language-specific components of phonological memory in Spanish-English bilinguals.
- To assess how phonological memory influences vocabulary and grammar development in both languages.
Main Methods:
- Assessed phonological memory for nonwords in English and Spanish at 22 months.
- Measured relative language exposure to English and Spanish.
- Evaluated productive vocabulary and grammar in both languages at 25 months.
Main Results:
- Phonological memory for English and Spanish nonwords were highly correlated.
- Phonological memory skills were related to vocabulary and grammar in both languages.
- Evidence suggests both language-general and language-specific effects of language exposure and phonological memory.
Conclusions:
- Phonological memory in bilingual children has a significant language-general component.
- Early language exposure and phonological memory skills provide language-specific benefits to bilingual development.
- Phonological memory is a key factor supporting the development of multiple languages in young children.
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