LINGUIST List 19.2493
Wed Aug 13 2008
Diss: Lang Acq/Neuroling: Torkildsen: 'Lexical Processing in ...'
Editor for this issue: Evelyn Richter
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1. Janne
Torkildsen,
Lexical Processing in Typically and Atypically Developing Toddlers: Insights from event-related brain potentials
Message 1: Lexical Processing in Typically and Atypically Developing Toddlers: Insights from event-related brain potentials
Date: 13-Aug-2008
From: Janne Torkildsen <janne.torkildsengmail.com>
Subject: Lexical Processing in Typically and Atypically Developing Toddlers: Insights from event-related brain potentials
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Institution: University of Oslo
Program: Department of Linguistics
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2008
Author: Janne von Koss Torkildsen
Dissertation Title: Lexical Processing in Typically and Atypically Developing Toddlers: Insights from event-related brain potentials
Dissertation URL: http://www.hf.uio.no/iln/om-instituttet/ansatte/vit/PhD_Torkildsen.pdf
Linguistic Field(s):
Language Acquisition
Neurolinguistics
Dissertation Director:
Magnus Lindgren
Hanne Gram Simonsen
Dissertation Abstract:
Although some of the most dramatic linguistic advances take place duringthe second year of life, knowledge of language function in this period isstill limited. Particularly with regard to receptive language processing,it is difficult to obtain reliable behavioral data due to expressive andmotivational limitations in toddlers. Electrophysiological techniques,which do not require overt behavioral responses from participants, offerexciting possibilities for increasing our knowledge about early languagedevelopment. The present thesis used the event-related potential (ERP)technique to investigate two aspects of lexical processing in 20- and24-month-old children: semantic organization of basic-level words and thedynamics of novel word learning. While the main focus of the thesis was ontypical development, it also aimed to determine whether young children atfamilial risk for dyslexia have a deficit in lexical-semantic processing.
In productive language, children in their second and third years of lifeare prone to overextend basic-level words (such as 'dog') to include othermembers of the same superordinate category (such as horse). However,results from the present thesis indicate that in comprehension children inthis age group are able to differentiate between words from the samesuperordinate category as labels for referents. This finding is at oddswith the position that children's overextensions result from oversizedconceptual or semantic categories.
The thesis also revealed significant differences in receptive learning ofnovel words between children who had reached a productive vocabulary spurtand children who had not yet reached this developmental milestone. Groupdifferences were seen both in the dynamics of word form familiarization andin the ability to form rapid associations between word forms and referents.These findings are discussed with regard to theories which suggest that thevocabulary spurt results from production specific advances such as improvedarticulatory control or increased motivation to communicate.
Toddlers at familial risk for dyslexia displayed deviances inlexical-semantic priming effects compared to typically developing children.This suggests that early deficits in children at-risk for dyslexia are notrestricted to lower level auditory or phonological processing, but alsoinvolve higher-order language skills such as word comprehension.
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