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Individual differences at 20 months: analytic and holistic strategies in language acquisition*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Inge Bretherton ,
Sandra McNew ,
Lynn Snyder  and
Elizabeth Bates
Inge Bretherton
Affiliation:
Colorado State University
Sandra McNew
Affiliation:
University of Colorado
Lynn Snyder
Affiliation:
University of Denver
Elizabeth Bates
Affiliation:
University of California at San Diego
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Abstract

The study focuses on the language abilities of 30 20-month-old children, using data from two sources: a detailed maternal interview and 90 minutes of videotaped observation. Observed language was coded into the categories used for the interview. Production and comprehension at 28 months (MLU, PPVT and morphology comprehension) were also assessed. Observation and interview data at 20 months were highly intercorrelated. Cluster analyses of both data sets yielded referential, grammatical morpheme and dialogue clusters, providing partial support for the nominal/pronominal and referential/expressive acquisition styles reported in the literature. However, the referential and grammatical morpheme clusters were highly correlated, suggesting that two acquisition strategies are developing in parallel. Only for those children who heavily emphasize one strategy can one speak of a distinctive style. All interview and observation clusters predicted 28-months MLU, but the grammatical morpheme clusters did not predict later performance on a Grammatical Morpheme Test. It is tentatively suggested that holistic processing strategies underlie the pronominal/expressive style.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 1983 , pp. 293 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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Footnotes

[*]

Support for this research was provided by a grant from the Spencer Foundation to Bates and Bretherton. We would like to thank the mothers and children who participated in this project. We would also like to thank Marjorie Beeghly-Smith, Andrew Garrison, Cynthia Rodacy and Cecilia Shore for their help in data collection and analysis. Address for correspondence: Inge Bretherton, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523.

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