Using secondary data analysis to compare core vocabulary lists and elicitation duration of two data sets of typically developing preschool Afrikaans-speaking children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Core vocabulary lists provide an evidence-based method for describing the vocabulary of individuals across various age groups, categorised by different parts of speech. Despite its value, there is a paucity of core vocabulary lists in nonmainstream languages. Resource limitations contribute to this paucity; therefore, more efficient methods for developing core vocabulary lists are needed. This study aimed to compare two sets of previously collected language samples from typically developing 5–6-year-old Afrikaans-speaking children to compare two different elicitation methods for developing a core vocabulary list. We also compared the duration of the language samples to inform the duration required for accurate and representative language samples for the development of core vocabulary lists. METHODS : Using secondary data analysis, we compared the core vocabulary lists from two existing data sets in terms of the number of different words, the frequency of use of each of these words, type-token ratio, and parts of speech used by typically developing 5–6-year-old Afrikaans-speaking children. RESULTS : The average recording time for data set A was 60 min in a single session. The corresponding value for data set B was 250 min, recorded over a period of 1–3 days. A perfect positive Spearman correlation was observed between the results for the two data sets for all parts of speech except interjections and enclitics. Code switching formed part of data set B’s core words but did not appear in data set A’s core word list. CONCLUSION : The findings demonstrate that similar core vocabulary lists can be obtained for 5–6-year-old children using a less invasive and time-effective 60-min elicited method for language samples compared to naturalistic samples collected over 1–3 days. Proposing a more robust and less time- and resource-intensive method of developing vocabulary lists may further support the development of core word lists across ages and in other languages.