Polish Vocabulary Development in 2-Year-Olds: Comparisons With English Using the Language Development Survey
Leslie Rescorla1, Holly Constants1, Marta Bialecka-Pikul2
1Bryn Mawr College, PA.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|March 11, 2017
Summary
Vocabulary acquisition in toddlers appears slower in Polish compared to English, likely due to language complexity. However, the composition of early vocabulary shows similarities across both languages.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Child Language Acquisition
Background:
- Early vocabulary development is crucial for cognitive and social skills.
- Understanding cross-linguistic differences in language acquisition provides insights into universal and language-specific developmental patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vocabulary size and composition in 2-year-old children acquiring Polish versus English.
- To utilize the Language Development Survey (LDS) for standardized assessment.
Main Methods:
- A cross-linguistic study involving 199 Polish toddlers and 422 U.S. toddlers (mean age 24 months).
- Vocabulary size and composition were measured using the Language Development Survey (LDS).
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare scores and identify cross-linguistic correlations.
Main Results:
- Mean LDS scores were significantly lower for Polish-learning toddlers compared to English-learning toddlers.
- Fewer Polish children achieved vocabulary scores over 200 words.
- Despite differences in vocabulary size, noun dominance was comparable, and significant cross-linguistic word overlap was observed in the top 100 words.
Conclusions:
- Vocabulary acquisition seems slower in Polish than in English, potentially due to linguistic complexity.
- Vocabulary composition, particularly noun usage and shared early words, demonstrates considerable similarity between the two language groups.
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