Adult contribution towards early adjective acquisition : evidence from Russian and Lithuanian longitudinal data

Abstract

Child-directed speech (CDS, also termed input, motherese, baby-talk) is considered one of the most important factors for native language acquisition (Ambridge and Lieven 2011; Clark 2009; Ervin-Tripp and Strage 1985; Nelson 1973; Snow and Ferguson 1977; Tomasello 2003). Despite the cultural and individual features of CDS (for example, see Choi 1997; de León 1998; Fernald, Taeschner, Dunn, Papousek et al. 1989; Heath 1983; Leddon, Waxman and Medin 2011; Lieven 1994; Ochs and Schieffelin 1984; Pye 1986; Schieffelin 1979), one can observe that children growing up in a rich linguistic environment acquire better skills in their native language (Girolametto, Bonifacio, Visini, Weitzman et al. 2002); and, in contrast, inadequate or pure input can cause delayed or even impaired language acquisition (Daukšytė 2005; Hoff 2003; Ravid 2008; Sachs, Bard and Johnson 1981; Sachs and Johnson 1976).