Computer methods in child language research: four principles for the use of archived data

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Child Language ◽  
Computer Search ◽  
Minimum Bias ◽  
International Standard ◽  
Computer Methods ◽  
Data Comparability ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Archived Data

ABSTRACTWith the increasing use of computers in language research, there is a need for caution concerning several new issues of data accountability. This paper presents four principles for archive-based language research: Maximum Readability and Minimum Bias; Consistent Encoding for exhaustive computer search; Systematic Contrastiveness; and Data Comparability in elicitation, transcription and coding. These and related principles are illustrated by examples from existing computer archives, and strategies are suggested for minimizing detrimental effects of violations. Finally, the paper describes some implications of the principles for properties of a field-wide and international standard of transcription of language data.

The Child Language Data Exchange System: an update

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian MacWhinney ◽  
Catherine Snow
Keyword(s):  
Data Exchange ◽  
Child Language ◽  
International System ◽  
Organizational Form ◽  
Previous Issue ◽  
Exchange System ◽  
System A ◽  
Forthcoming Book ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Language Data

ABSTRACTIn a previous issue of this Journal, MacWhinney & Snow (1985) laid out the basic sketch for an international system for exchanging and analysing child language transcript data. This system – the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES) – has developed three major tools for child language research: (1) the CHILDES database of transcripts, (2) the CHAT system for transcribing and coding data, and (3) the CLAN programs for analysing CHAT files. Here we sketch out the current shape of these three major tools and the organizational form of the CHILDES system. A forthcoming book (MacWhinney, in press) documents these tools in detail.

Machine-Scored Syntax: Comparison of the CLAN Automatic Scoring Program to Manual Scoring

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-493
Author(s):  
Jenny A. Roberts ◽  
Evelyn P. Altenberg ◽  
Madison Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Data Exchange ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Exchange System ◽  
Absolute Point ◽  
Language Analysis ◽  
Search Patterns ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Report Accuracy ◽  
Point To Point ◽  
Automatic Scoring

Purpose The results of automatic machine scoring of the Index of Productive Syntax from the Computerized Language ANalysis (CLAN) tools of the Child Language Data Exchange System of TalkBank (MacWhinney, 2000) were compared to manual scoring to determine the accuracy of the machine-scored method. Method Twenty transcripts of 10 children from archival data of the Weismer Corpus from the Child Language Data Exchange System at 30 and 42 months were examined. Measures of absolute point difference and point-to-point accuracy were compared, as well as points erroneously given and missed. Two new measures for evaluating automatic scoring of the Index of Productive Syntax were introduced: Machine Item Accuracy (MIA) and Cascade Failure Rate— these measures further analyze points erroneously given and missed. Differences in total scores, subscale scores, and individual structures were also reported. Results Mean absolute point difference between machine and hand scoring was 3.65, point-to-point agreement was 72.6%, and MIA was 74.9%. There were large differences in subscales, with Noun Phrase and Verb Phrase subscales generally providing greater accuracy and agreement than Question/Negation and Sentence Structures subscales. There were significantly more erroneous than missed items in machine scoring, attributed to problems of mistagging of elements, imprecise search patterns, and other errors. Cascade failure resulted in an average of 4.65 points lost per transcript. Conclusions The CLAN program showed relatively inaccurate outcomes in comparison to manual scoring on both traditional and new measures of accuracy. Recommendations for improvement of the program include accounting for second exemplar violations and applying cascaded credit, among other suggestions. It was proposed that research on machine-scored syntax routinely report accuracy measures detailing erroneous and missed scores, including MIA, so that researchers and clinicians are aware of the limitations of a machine-scoring program. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11984364

Type/Token Ratios: what do they really tell us?

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Richards
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Diversity Measure ◽  
Closed Class ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Non Linear

ABSTRACTType/Token Ratios have been extensively used in child language research as an index of lexical diversity. This paper shows that the measure has frequently failed to discriminate between children at widely different stages of language development, and that the ratio may in fact fall as children get older. It is suggested here that such effects are caused by a negative, though non-linear, relationship between sample size (i.e. number of tokens) and Type/Token Ratio. Effects of open and closed class items are considered and an alternative Verbal Diversity measure is examined. Standardization of the number of tokens before computing Type/Token Ratios is recommended.

scholarly journals The expression and change of giving directives in the language of pre-school children

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Jolita Ančlauskaitė
Keyword(s):  
School Children ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Text Corpora ◽  
Work Material ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Academic Year

It is stated that children in their speech master directives at their earliest age and they use them the most frequently. However, it is currently unknown how these directives develop in the Lithuanian language and how their expression changes when a child grows up. This article investigates the change in the number and expression of directives during child’s raising, and what their differences emerge individually by comparing the speech of girls and boys. It is expected that the analysis conducted during the work will contribute to the studies of children’s pragmatic competence in Lithuania, i.e. to establish the most common characteristics typical to the directives used by children, by comparing the directives used by pre-school children at the beginning of the academic year and in its end in order to identify the differences and how children’s speech changes when more intensive formal education starts. The paper involves the gender dimension by expecting that differences in the language may be also envisaged between girls and boys. The object of this paper is directives used in spontaneous dialogues of pre-school children. The work material consists of 12 children’s dialogues, which have been transcribed and encoded morphologically by Software CHILDES (Child Language Data Exchange System). The following methods were applied during the work: 1) Cross-sectional (by sampling the subjects and gathering the work material); 2) Linguistic text corpora (by filing and analysing a child language text by Software CHILDES); 3) Comparative (by comparing: a) Data of the speech of girls and boys; b) Data of the speech of five-year-olds and six-year-olds). After summarising the results of this research, it might be stated that even pre-school children can use different forms of directive types. As it was expected, more difficult constructions and forms develop by experiencing more different situations, what is seen when the stages change (at the beginning and in the end of the study). The gender dimension highlighted in the study suggests that considerable differences were not identified, and most cases reported indicate more common charcteristics.

scholarly journals The role of caregiver speech in supporting language development in infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1230-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan R. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Language Data

AbstractParents play an essential role in supporting child development by providing a safe home, proper nutrition, and rich educational opportunities. In this article we focus on the role of caregiver speech in supporting development of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We review studies from typically developing children and children with autism showing that rich and responsive caregiver speech supports language development. Autism intervention studies that target caregiver speech are reviewed as are recent scientific advances from studies of typical development. The strengths and weakness of different techniques for collecting language data from caregivers and children are reviewed, and natural language samples are recommended as best practice for language research in autism. We conclude that caregivers play a powerful role in shaping their children's development and encourage researchers to adapt parent-mediated intervention studies to acknowledge individual differences in parents by using a personalized medicine approach.

Representing representative child language data

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (42-43) ◽  
pp. 343-344
Author(s):  
Khurshid Ahmad ◽  
John Wright
Keyword(s):  
Child Language ◽  
Language Data

scholarly journals learning colour words is slow: a cross-situational learning account

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
paul vogt ◽  
andrew d. m. smith
Keyword(s):  
Child Language ◽  
Computational Studies ◽  
Fast Learning ◽  
Language Data ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Situational Learning

research into child language reveals that it takes a long time for children to learn the correct mapping of colour words. steels & belpaeme's (s&b's) guessing game, however, models fast learning of words. we discuss computational studies based on cross-situational learning, which yield results that are more consistent with the empirical child language data than those obtained by s&b.

Children's use of phonological information in ambiguity resolution: a view from Mandarin Chinese

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
PENG ZHOU ◽  
YI (ESTHER) SU ◽  
STEPHEN CRAIN ◽  
LIQUN GAO ◽  
LIKAN ZHAN
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Mandarin Chinese ◽  
Ambiguity Resolution ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge ◽  
Phonological Information ◽  
Language Research

ABSTRACTHow do children develop the mapping between prosody and other levels of linguistic knowledge? This question has received considerable attention in child language research. In the present study two experiments were conducted to investigate four- to five-year-old Mandarin-speaking children's sensitivity to prosody in ambiguity resolution. Experiment 1 used eye-tracking to assess children's use of stress in resolving structural ambiguities. Experiment 2 took advantage of special properties of Mandarin to investigate whether children can use intonational cues to resolve ambiguities involving speech acts. The results of our experiments show that children's use of prosodic information in ambiguity resolution varies depending on the type of ambiguity involved. Children can use prosodic information more effectively to resolve speech act ambiguities than to resolve structural ambiguities. This finding suggests that the mapping between prosody and semantics/pragmatics in young children is better established than the mapping between prosody and syntax.

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