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Within- and Cross-Language Relations Between Phonological Memory, Vocabulary, and Grammar in Bilingual Children
Margaret Kehoe1, Diane Poulin-Dubois2, Margaret Friend3
1Department of Speech Therapy and Psycholinguistics, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|November 3, 2021
Summary
Phonological memory is linked to vocabulary and grammar skills in bilingual children, both within and across languages. These associations were observed in French-English and Spanish-English speakers from 30 to 48 months.
Area of Science:
- Child language acquisition
- Bilingualism research
- Cognitive development
Background:
- Phonological memory plays a crucial role in language learning.
- Understanding cross-linguistic influences is vital for bilingual development.
- Early language skills in bilingual children require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine within-language and between-language links between phonological memory, vocabulary, and grammar.
- To investigate these associations in French-English and Spanish-English bilingual children.
- To determine how these relationships evolve between 30 and 48 months of age.
Main Methods:
- Bilingual children (N=68) aged 30, 36, and 48 months participated.
- Language samples (vocabulary, grammar) were collected during free play.
- Nonword repetition tasks assessed phonological memory in both languages.
- Parent inventories and standardized tests measured vocabulary.
Main Results:
- Phonological memory showed associations with vocabulary and grammar within each language.
- Phonological memory in one language was linked to development in the other language.
- Within-language effects remained stable, while between-language associations varied with age.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the existence of cross-language associations between phonological memory and lexical/grammatical skills.
- Phonological memory is a significant factor in bilingual language development.
- The study highlights the interconnectedness of language skills in young bilinguals.
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