Diversity in bilingual child language acquisition research: A commentary on Kidd and Garcia (2022). Issue 6 (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rochanavibhata, Sirada; Marian, Viorica
• Other Names: Marshall Chloë guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: First language. Volume 42:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 804
• Page End: 808
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Child language acquisition -- bilingualism -- cross-linguistic -- cross-cultural -- mother–child dyads -- narrative discourse -- non-verbal communication; Language acquisition -- Periodicals; 401.9305
• DOI: 10.1177/01427237221100138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-7237

Abstract

Kidd and Garcia report that language acquisition studies are skewed toward monolingual and English-speaking populations. This commentary considers Kidd and Garcia's arguments in light of our research on mother-preschooler discourse and non-verbal communication in Thai monolingual and Thai-English bilingual children. We discuss lessons learned from testing linguistically diverse children and underscore the importance of research on non-WEIRD (Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich, and Democratic) populations. We advocate for the inclusion of children who speak understudied languages and those who speak multiple languages in developmental science.