Language Samples Overview

Language Sample

A representation of a child’s production of language used for assessment and comparison with developmental data.

Obtaining Language Samples

The process of collecting language samples through techniques such as recording conversations to evaluate child language output.

Factors Affecting Representativeness

Elements that influence how accurately a sample reflects a child's typical language use, including interaction nature, setting, materials, sample size, and recording method.

Sample Size

The number of utterances collected from a child, typically ranging from 50 to 100, influencing the richness of language data.

Transcribing Language Samples

The act of writing out exactly what is said in a recorded sample, including context and nonlinguistic actions.

Analyzing Language Samples

The process of evaluating various aspects of a child's language including semantics, syntax, phonology, morphology, and pragmatics.

MLU (Mean Length of Utterance)

A measure used in language analysis to assess the average length of a child's utterances.

Pragmatics

The aspect of language that deals with the social rules and contexts of communication, such as turn-taking and topic maintenance.

Lexicon

The vocabulary of a language, including all the words and their meanings used by a child.

Phonology

The study of the sound system of a language and the speech sounds present in a child's output.