Naturalistic studies show that children can create language-like communication systems in the absence of conventional language. However, experimental evidence is mixed. We address this discrepancy using an experimental paradigm that simulates naturalistic sign creation. Specifically, we tested if a sample of 6- to 12-year-old children (52 girls…

Amid growing controversy about the oft-cited "30-million-word gap," this investigation uses language data from five American communities across the socioeconomic spectrum to test, for the first time, Hart and Risley's (1995) claim that poor children hear 30 million fewer words than their middle-class counterparts during the early years…

Verbal interaction of 12 mothers and 12 fathers with their 19-month-old children in parent/infant dyads and parents/infant triads was assessed. In the triad condition, fathers spoke less and took fewer conversational turns than did mothers. (JMB)

Investigates vocal and nonvocal communication patterns between three groups of mother-infant pairs that include homemakers who prefer not to work, homemakers who prefer to work, and working mothers. (SS)

Reveals that different aspects of the environment differentially contributed to variability in communication performance of one-year-old infants. Findings support the environmental specificity hypothesis and underline the need to consider physical environmental parameters when investigating environmental influences. (Author/RH)

The effects of child deafness on mother-child interaction were investigated by observing mother-child dyads in free-play situations. Subjects were six deaf child/hearing mother pairs and six normal hearing pairs. All children were between 13.2 and 29.2 months of age. (Author/MP)

Two studies assessed changes in attentional engagement as a function of exposure to "teachers" differing in perceived power and the communication style associated with perceived power. Results suggested that adult ambiguity (more characteristic of those with perception of low power) leads to reductions in children's attentional…

Observed the decision-reaching and leadership behavior of children in same- amd mixed-age triads by coding their verbalizations in arriving at a consensus for their preference ranking of eight pictures. (HOD)

Evaluated differences among neglectful, behavior-problem, and normal mothers in their reports of child behavior problems and observed verbal behavior with children in situations requiring differing degrees of maternal control. Relative to normal mothers, behavior-problem mothers were most negative and were as controlling as neglectful mothers…