title: Effect of phonotactic probability and neighborhood density on word-learning configuration by preschoolers with typical development and specific language impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the authors assessed the effects of phonotactic probability and neighborhood density on word-learning configuration by preschoolers with specific language impairment (SLI) and typical language development (TD).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-one children participated: 48 with SLI, 44 with TD matched on age and gender, and 39 with TD matched on vocabulary and gender. Referent identification and naming were assessed in a computer-based learning context.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For referent identification, preschoolers with TD benefited from high phonotactic probability, and the younger group also benefited from low neighborhood density. In contrast, the SLI group benefited only from high neighborhood density. For naming, older preschoolers with TD benefited most from low-density words, younger preschoolers with TD benefited most from words with high phonotactic probability, and the SLI group showed no advantage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phonotactic probability and neighborhood density had different effects on each group that may be related to children's ability to store well-specified word forms and to the size of their extant lexicon. The authors argue that cross-study comparisons of word learning are needed; therefore, researchers should describe word, referent, and learner characteristics and the learning context and should situate their studies in a triggering → configuration + engagement model of word learning.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinhold
mesh_terms: D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D011336:Probability; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014825:Vocabulary