Common aetiology for diverse language skills in 4 1/2-year-old twins.
Multivariate genetic analysis was used to examine the genetic and environmental aetiology of the interrelationships of diverse linguistic skills. This study used data from a large sample of 4 1/2-year-old twins who were tested on measures assessing articulation, phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal memory. Phenotypic analysis suggested two latent factors: articulation (2 measures) and general language (the remaining 7), and a genetic model incorporating these factors provided a good fit to the data. Almost all genetic and shared environmental influences on the 9 measures acted through the two latent factors. There was also substantial aetiological overlap between the two latent factors, with a genetic correlation of 0.64 and shared environment correlation of 1.00. We conclude that to a large extent, the same genetic and environmental factors underlie the development of individual differences in a wide range of linguistic skills.
Hayiou-Thomas
Marianna E
ME
Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington. m.hayiou-thomas@psychology.york.ac.uk
Kovas
Yulia
Y
Harlaar
Nicole
N
Plomin
Robert
R
Bishop
Dorothy V M
DV
Dale
Philip S
PS
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007807:Language Tests; D008037:Linguistics; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010700:Phonetics; D014427:Twins; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014825:Vocabulary