Constructively combining languages

Quick AE, Lieven E, Backus A, Tomasello M (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism John Benjamins Publishing Company

Book Volume: 8

Pages Range: 393-409

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1075/lab.17008.qui

Abstract

Language development in bilingual children is often related to differing levels of proficiency. Objective measurements of bilingual development include for example mean length of utterance (MLU). MLU is almost always calculated for each language context (including both monolingual and code-mixed utterances). In the current study, we analyzed the MLUs of three German-English bilingual children, aged 2;3-3;11 separately for the monolingual and code-mixed utterances. Our results showed that language preference was reflected in MLU values: the more children spoke in one language the higher the MLU was in that language. However, it was the mixed utterances that had the highest MLU for all three children. We support the results with a construction type analysis and suggest a potential usage-based explanation for these results based on individual differences in each child's developmental inventory of words and constructions.

Involved external institutions

Universität Leipzig DE Germany (DE) University of Manchester GB United Kingdom (GB) Tilburg University NL Netherlands (NL) Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology / Max-Planck-Institut für evolutionäre Anthropologie DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Quick, A.E., Lieven, E., Backus, A., & Tomasello, M. (2018). Constructively combining languages. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 8(3), 393-409. https://dx.doi.org/10.1075/lab.17008.qui

MLA:

Quick, Antje Endesfelder, et al. "Constructively combining languages." Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism 8.3 (2018): 393-409.

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