The role of primary caregiver vocabulary knowledge in the development of bilingual children's vocabulary skills.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The present study examined the impact of environmental factors (socioeconomic status [SES], the percent of language exposure to English and to Spanish, and primary caregivers' vocabulary knowledge) on bilingual children's vocabulary skills.

Method

Vocabulary skills were measured in 58 bilingual children between the ages of 5 and 7 who spoke Spanish as their native language and English as their second language. Data related to language environment in the home, specifically, the percent of language exposure to each language and SES, were obtained from primary caregiver interviews. Primary caregivers' vocabulary knowledge was measured directly using expressive and receptive vocabulary assessments in both languages.

Results

Multiple regression analyses indicated t

SUBMITTER: Buac M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4632841 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature