CISLL Publications

The Influence of Prosodic Stress Patterns and Semantic Depth on Novel Word Learning in Typically Developing Children

Author ORCID Identifier

Allison Gladfelter: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2573-2035

Lisa Gorman: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7989-737X

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Language Learning and Development

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of prosodic stress patterns and semantic depth on word learning. Twelve preschool-aged children with typically developing speech and language skills participated in a word learning task. Novel words with either a trochaic or iambic prosodic pattern were embedded in one of two learning conditions, either in children’s stories (semantically rich) or picture matching games (semantically sparse). Three main analyses were used to measure word learning: comprehension and production probes, phonetic accuracy, and speech motor stability. Results revealed that prosodic frequency and density influence the learnability of novel words, or that there are prosodic neighborhood density effects. The impact of semantic depth on word learning was minimal and likely depends on the amount of experience with the novel words.

First Page

151

Last Page

174

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/15475441.2012.684574

Publication Date

2013

Department

Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literature| School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Special Interest Group

Diversity and Language Processing, Learning Within the Disciplines and Across the Lifespan

Sponsorship

NIH grant DC04826

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