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.

First language development: a usage-based perspective on past and current research

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. 48-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELENA LIEVEN
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Child Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Systematic Errors ◽  
The Past ◽  
Language Research ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTI first outline three major developments in child language research over the past forty years: the use of computational modelling to reveal the structure of information in the input; the focus on quantifying productivity and abstraction; and developments in the explanation of systematic errors. Next, I turn to what I consider to be major outstanding issues: how the network of constructions builds up and the relationship between social and cognitive development and language learning. Finally, I briefly consider a number of other areas of importance to a psychologically realistic understanding of children's language development.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHILD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. Susan H. Foster-Cohen. London: Longman, 1999. Pp. xv + 232. £13.99 paper.

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-422
Author(s):  
Usha Lakshmanan
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Child Language Acquisition ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Single Approach

This book is an excellent introduction to the field of child language development. It demonstrates the need for both a theory of language development and reliable speech and comprehension data in child language research. As Foster-Cohen states in the preface to the book, the adoption of only a single approach, as opposed to a combination of different approaches, is unlikely to lead to a productive understanding of child language acquisition. The book successfully adopts the perspectives of both the empiricist and the rationalist traditions in its treatment of key issues.

scholarly journals An investigation into maternal use of telegraphic input to children with Down syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily LORANG ◽  
Courtney E. VENKER ◽  
Audra STERLING
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Children With Down Syndrome ◽  
Maternal Input ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
Future Work

AbstractMaternal input influences language development in children with Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD). Telegraphic input, or simplified input violating English grammatical rules, is controversial in speech–language pathology, yet no research to date has investigated whether mothers of children with DS use telegraphic input. This study investigated the quality of linguistic input to children with DS compared to age-matched children with TD, and the relationship between maternal input and child language abilities. Mothers of children with DS simplified their input in multiple ways, by using a lower lexical diversity, shorter utterances, and more telegraphic input compared to mothers of children with TD. Telegraphic input was not significantly correlated with other aspects of maternal input or child language abilities. Since children with DS demonstrate specific deficits in grammatical compared to lexical abilities, future work should investigate the long-term influence of maternal telegraphic input on language development in children with DS.

How far does a construction grammar approach to argument structure take us in understanding children's language development?

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
NANCY BUDWIG
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Argument Structure ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Language Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Linguistic Approaches

Tomasello's stimulating review of Goldberg's (1995) book, Constructions: a construction grammar approach to argument structure, raises several themes worthy of discussion. Tomasello suggests numerous reasons why functional and cognitive linguistic approaches in general, and Goldberg's approach in particular, are central to current work in child language. In my commentary I will summarize Tomasello's central claims about what he sees as significant about Goldberg's book, and I will raise the question of whether construction grammar – rather than any other cognitive or functional approach – is worth pursuing. While generally sympathetic to Goldberg's approach, I will discuss two issues that I think are worthy of further consideration in future research.Tomasello highlights three very important reasons why he believes Goldberg's approach makes a significant contribution to child language research. First, he states that construction grammar provides a way of understanding language development as a whole, and not just particular aspects of language development, such as core grammar. Second, Tomasello characterizes Goldberg's approach as noteworthy because it provides a way of relating language development to other domains of human cognition. A third advantage, Tomasello claims, is that construction grammar allows for the view of language development as protracted (e.g. not instantaneous), something Tomasello suggests fits well with his own research findings (see Tomasello, 1992).

The Type-Token Ratio and Vocabulary Performance

1984 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla W. Hess ◽  
Kelley P. Ritchie ◽  
Richard G. Landry
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Whole Language ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Vocabulary Test ◽  
Peabody Picture Vocabulary ◽  
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test ◽  
Lexical Diversity ◽  
Measurement Domain ◽  
Language Sample

The Type-Token Ratio (TTR), a measure of lexical diversity, was correlated with four measures of vocabulary performance: the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised, the Oral and Picture subtests of the Test of Language Development, and the Test of Written Language. The vocabulary tests were administered to 21 6-, 7-, and 8-yr.-old children from whom language samples were obtained for the application of three Type Token Ratio measures: the TTR-Total for the whole language sample, the TTR-100 for language samples of 100 words, and the CTTR, a procedure intended to be independent of language sample size. One correlation of .45 (between the CTTR and the Oral-TOLD) was significant. More research on validity is necessary to clarify the measurement domain of the TTR, if it is to be useful clinically.

Input to interaction to instruction: three key shifts in the history of child language research

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
CATHERINE E. SNOW
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Language Research ◽  
History Of ◽  
Adequate Quantity ◽  
Language Input

ABSTRACTIn the early years of theJournal of Child Language, there was considerable disagreement about the role of language input or adult–child interaction in children's language acquisition. The view that quantity and quality of input to language-learning children is relevant to their language development has now become widely accepted as a principle guiding advice to parents and the design of early childhood education programs, even if it is not yet uncontested in the field of language development. The focus on variation in the language input to children acquires particular educational relevance when we consider variation in access to academic language – features of language particularly valued in school and related to success in reading and writing. Just as many children benefit from language environments that are intentionally designed to ensure adequate quantity and quality of input, even more probably need explicit instruction in the features of language that characterize its use for academic purposes

scholarly journals Variations in the Home Language Environment and Early Language Development in Rural China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2671
Author(s):  
Yue Ma ◽  
Laura Jonsson ◽  
Tianli Feng ◽  
Tyler Weisberg ◽  
Teresa Shao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Home Language ◽  
Early Language ◽  
Early Language Development ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Conversational Turns ◽  
Home Language Environment

The home language environment is critical to early language development and subsequent skills. However, few studies have quantitatively measured the home language environment in low-income, developing settings. This study explores variations in the home language environment and child language skills among households in poor rural villages in northwestern China. Audio recordings were collected for 38 children aged 20–28 months and analyzed using Language Environment Analysis (LENA) software; language skills were measured using the MacArthur–Bates Mandarin Communicative Developmental Inventories expressive vocabulary scale. The results revealed large variability in both child language skills and home language environment measures (adult words, conversational turns, and child vocalizations) with 5- to 6-fold differences between the highest and lowest scores. Despite variation, however, the average number of adult words and conversational turns were lower than found among urban Chinese children. Correlation analyses did not identify significant correlations between demographic characteristics and the home language environment. However, the results do indicate significant correlations between the home language environment and child language skills, with conversational turns showing the strongest correlation. The results point to a need for further research on language engagement and ways to increase parent–child interactions to improve early language development among young children in rural China.

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