A corpus based study of first language acquisition of degree adverbs
Citation
(2016) A corpus based study of first
language acquisition of
degree adverbs, no. 39.
Abstract
Research by Tribushinina and Dubinkina (2012) and Marshall and Van der Lely
(2007) indicates that degree markers, including degree adverbs, may be an area of
difficulty for children with Speech Language Impairment. This study investigates the
acquisition of degree adverbs in English speaking children.
Two corpora from the Child Language Exchange System (MacWhinney 2000) were
used to investigate degree adverb use in the speech of children up to 7 years in both
a structured and naturalistic setting.
There was a small relative frequency of degree adverbs but the results showed that
children use degree adverbs before 2;0. Their use increases with age, with the rate
of increase slowing down between 5 and 7 years. The majority of degree adverbs
were used correctly but errors with degree modification were present at 7 years,
highlighting the length of the acquisition period. The overlapping age group of the
two corpora revealed a greater number of degree adverbs produced during the
unstructured setting. Scalar modifiers were the most frequently used type of degree
adverb.
Future research using experimental means is needed to support these results about
the order and timing of acquisition of degree adverbs, including information about
comprehension. Research on degree adverb use by English speaking children with
Specific Language Impairment is also required.