Hostname: page-component-6b989bf9dc-94dtm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-14T21:36:39.824Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The role of input frequency in lexical acquisition*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Richard G. Schwartz  and
Brenda Y. Terrell
Richard G. Schwartz
Affiliation:
Purdue University
Brenda Y. Terrell
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The influence of frequency of occurrence in input upon early lexical acquisition was examined within an experimental paradigm. Twelve children (1; 0·21 to 1; 3·15) were presented with 16 contrived lexical concepts, each involving a nonsense word and four referents, over ten experimental sessions. Within each concept two exemplars were presented frequently and two were presented infrequently. Overall the children named more frequently presented exemplars than infrequently presented exemplars. However, when the absolute number of presentations was held constant, distributed (infrequent) presentations led to greater acquisition than massed (frequent) presentations.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1983 , pp. 57 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

[*]

Preparation of this paper was in part supported by a grant from the Public Health Service, 1RO1NS16154-01, Lexical factors in specific language impairment. Address for correspondence: Richard G. Schwartz, Audiology and Speech Sciences, Heavilon Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.

References

REFERENCES

Bates, E. (1976). Language and context: the acquisition of pragmatics. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Brown, R. (1973). A first language: the early stages. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Derwing, B. (1973). Transformational grammar as a theory of language acquisition. Cambridge: C.U.P.Google Scholar
Dore, J., Franklin, M. B., Miller, R. T. & Ramer, A. L. H. (1976). Transitional phenomena in early language acquisition. JChLang 3. 13–28.Google Scholar
Greenfield, P. (1980). Going beyond information theory to explain early word choice: a reply to Roy Pea. JChLang 7. 217–21.Google Scholar
Greenfield, P. & Smith, J. (1976). The structure of communication in early language development. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Greenfield, P. & Zukow, P. (1978). Why do children say what they say when they say it?: an experimental approach to the psychogenesis of presupposition. In Nelson, K. E.. (ed.), Children's language. Vol. 1. New York: Gardner.Google Scholar
Hubbell, R. (1977). On facilitating spontaneous talking in young children. JSHD 42. 216–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kientzle, M. (1946). Properties of learning curves under varied distribution of practice. JExpPsychol 36. 187–211.Google Scholar
Kimble, G. & Bilodeau, E. (1949). Work and rest as variables in cyclical motor learning. JExpPsychol 39. 150–7.Google ScholarPubMed
Lorge, I. (1939). Influence of regularly interpolated time intervals on subsequent learning. TeachCollContrEduc, No. 438.Google Scholar
Menn, L. (1976). Pattern, control and contrast in beginning speech: a case study of word form and word function. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Google Scholar
Moerk, E. (1980). Relationships between parental input frequencies and children's language acquisition: a re-analysis of Brown's data. JChLang 7. 105–18.Google Scholar
Moerk, E. (1981). To attend or not to attend to unwelcome reanalyses ? A reply to Pinker. JChLang 8. 627–31.Google ScholarPubMed
Nelson, K. (1973). Structure and strategy in learning to talk. Monogr.Soc.Res.Ch.Devel. 38. Serial No. 149.Google Scholar
Ninio, A. & Bruner, J. (1978). The achievement and antecedents of labelling. JChLang 5. 1–16.Google Scholar
Olmsted, D. (1971). Out of the mouth of babes. The Hague: Mouton.Google Scholar
Pinker, S. (1981). On the acquisition of grammatical morphemes. JChLang 8. 477–84.Google ScholarPubMed
Schwartz, R. & Leonard, L. (1980). Words, objects and actions in early lexical acquisition. PRCLD 19. 20–36.Google Scholar
Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, O. (1954). Rate of learning in relation to spacing of practice periods in archery and badminton. ResQuartAmerAssHlthEduc 25. 231–43.Google Scholar