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Early lexical development of Finnish children: A longitudinal study

University of Helsinki and Turku University Central Hospital, Suvi.Stolt{at}utu.fi

Leena Haataja

Turku University Central Hospital

Helena Lapinleimu

Turku University Central Hospital

Liisa Lehtonen

Turku University Central Hospital

The growth rate and the development of the composition of the receptive and expressive lexicon were studied in a longitudinal sample of 35 Finnish children. The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory was used to gather data of the receptive lexicon at 0;9, 1;0 and 1;3, and the expressive lexicon at 0;9, 1;0, 1;3, 1;6 and 2;0. The receptive lexicon was acquired earlier, at a faster rate and with higher individual variation than the expressive lexicon. A gender difference was found in expressive vocabulary, but not in receptive vocabulary. The growth trajectories of semantic lexical categories detected in both lexicons resembled each other. Verbs were acquired more readily in receptive lexicons. Results support a universal sequence in the development of the composition of the lexicon.

Key Words: Acquisition of Finnish • expressive lexicon • individual differences • longitudinal study • MacArthur CDI • receptive lexicon • vocabulary spurt

First Language, Vol. 28, No. 3, 259-279 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0142723708091051


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