Development of sentence interpretation strategies by typically developing and late-talking toddlers.
Three studies, designed to examine use of word order and animacy for interpretation of sentences by 21 typically-developing two-year-old, 23 typically-developing two-and-one-half-year-old, 16 typically-developing three-year-old, 17 language-delayed two-and-one-half-year-old and 19 language-delayed three-year-old children were carried out. Results indicated that typically-developing two-year olds used neither cue consistently to interpret sentences. Typically-developing two-and-one-half-year olds, on the other hand used a coalition of word order and animacy cues and language-delayed two-and-one-half-year olds used neither cue. At three years of age both groups of children used word order exclusively to interpret sentences.
San Diego State University and University of California at San Diego, USA.
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Thal
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Flores
D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014706:Verbal Learning