Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the level of grammatical accuracy in typically developing 3-year-olds and the types of errors they produce. Method: Twenty-two 3-year-olds participated in a picture description task. The percentage of grammatical utterances was computed and error types were analyzed. Results: The mean level of grammatical accuracy in typical 3-year-olds was ~71%, with a wide range of variability. The current study revealed a variety of error types produced by 3-year-olds, most of which were produced by fewer than 5 children. The pattern observed for most of the children was to produce a scattering of errors with no more than a few of any 1 error type. Conclusion: The level of grammatical accuracy in 3-year-olds was skewed toward the high end. Although tense marking errors were the most frequent error type, they accounted for only 1/3 of the errors produced by 3-year-olds. A more general measure of grammaticality that considers additional aspects of language might, therefore, be useful in assessing language at this age.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 36-52 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Language, speech, and hearing services in schools |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2012 |
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Keywords
- Language sample analysis
- Normal language development
- Preschool children
Cite this
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How grammatical are 3-year-olds? / Eisenberg, Sarita L.; Guo, Ling Yu; Germezia, Mor.
In: Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, Vol. 43, No. 1, 01.01.2012, p. 36-52.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - How grammatical are 3-year-olds?
AU - Eisenberg, Sarita L.
AU - Guo, Ling Yu
AU - Germezia, Mor
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - Purpose: This study investigated the level of grammatical accuracy in typically developing 3-year-olds and the types of errors they produce. Method: Twenty-two 3-year-olds participated in a picture description task. The percentage of grammatical utterances was computed and error types were analyzed. Results: The mean level of grammatical accuracy in typical 3-year-olds was ~71%, with a wide range of variability. The current study revealed a variety of error types produced by 3-year-olds, most of which were produced by fewer than 5 children. The pattern observed for most of the children was to produce a scattering of errors with no more than a few of any 1 error type. Conclusion: The level of grammatical accuracy in 3-year-olds was skewed toward the high end. Although tense marking errors were the most frequent error type, they accounted for only 1/3 of the errors produced by 3-year-olds. A more general measure of grammaticality that considers additional aspects of language might, therefore, be useful in assessing language at this age.
AB - Purpose: This study investigated the level of grammatical accuracy in typically developing 3-year-olds and the types of errors they produce. Method: Twenty-two 3-year-olds participated in a picture description task. The percentage of grammatical utterances was computed and error types were analyzed. Results: The mean level of grammatical accuracy in typical 3-year-olds was ~71%, with a wide range of variability. The current study revealed a variety of error types produced by 3-year-olds, most of which were produced by fewer than 5 children. The pattern observed for most of the children was to produce a scattering of errors with no more than a few of any 1 error type. Conclusion: The level of grammatical accuracy in 3-year-olds was skewed toward the high end. Although tense marking errors were the most frequent error type, they accounted for only 1/3 of the errors produced by 3-year-olds. A more general measure of grammaticality that considers additional aspects of language might, therefore, be useful in assessing language at this age.
KW - Language sample analysis
KW - Normal language development
KW - Preschool children
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855400849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1044/0161-1461(2011/10-0093)
DO - 10.1044/0161-1461(2011/10-0093)
M3 - Article
C2 - 22215529
AN - SCOPUS:84855400849
VL - 43
SP - 36
EP - 52
JO - Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
JF - Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
SN - 0161-1461
IS - 1
ER -