Language acquisition in a multilingual society: English vocabulary norms and predictors in Singaporean children. Issue 1 (21st October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Leher; Cheng, QiQi; Tan, Seok Hui; Tan, Agnes; Low, Yen Ling
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 93:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 305
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, infant vocabulary development was tracked in a multilingual society (Singapore) within a socioeconomically diverse sample. The sample comprised 1316 infants from 17.4 to 27.7 months (669 females, 647 males; 88% Chinese race, 4% Malay, 4% Indian, and 0.004% mixed‐race [4% declined to provide race information]). Children varied in English language exposure and socioeconomic status. Analyses focused on identifying demographic predictors of English vocabulary size in multilingually exposed infants. Adaptations of the Macarthur‐Bates Communicative Development Inventory for English, Mandarin, and Malay are provided as well as English vocabulary norms that account for variation in English exposure. This manuscript reports the first set of English language norms—calibrated to English exposure—for multilingual infants in a non‐Western setting.