Work

Children’s language status, not language, predicts vocabulary size

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: One of the most prominent characteristics of developmental language disorder (DLD) is limited vocabulary size and poor vocabulary composition. Through a cross-linguistic comparison of vocabulary breadth based on the CDI-III, we aimed to determine whether language and children’s language status can affect the vocabulary of 41- to 48-month old children with typical language development (TLD) and those with DLD. Children with DLD were observed to have a smaller vocabulary than children with TLD, even in semantic categories containing words typically acquired at earlier stages of language development. Therefore, it is not language itself that contributes to differences between groups, but rather the children’s language status, i.e., the presence of a language disorder (TLD vs DLD).

Source: Hrvatska revija za rehabilitacijska istraživanja

DOI: 10.31299/hrri.62.si.9

Authors: Jelena Kuvač Kraljević, Lidija Šmit Brleković, Barbara Penko, Damjana Kogovšek

Institutions: University of Zagreb, University of Ljubljana

Language: English

Topic: Language Development and Disorders

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7154564753

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