Early interactional quality and aspects of subsequent language acquisition

Abstract

This study addresses the continuity of differential interactional patterns. Early and later maternal interactional contingency is related with features of the child's verbal performance. 14 mother-child-dyads were observed in a freeplay situation with regard to maternal verbal and non-verbal contingency when the infants were three months of age. At the age of three years, the verbal exchange between mother and child was examined in two differently structured situations. Contextual and linguistic contingency of the mother-child dialogue and the child's verbal performance were assessed. Results reveal relationships between the child's verbal performance and the mother's early non-verbal well as current contextual contingency.