Keep the Ball Rolling: Sustained Multiturn Conversational Episodes Are Associated With Child Language Ability

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between interaction quality and child language ability. We focused on one promising interaction quality indicator-the rate of multiturn conversational episodes. We also explored whether the relationship between rate of single conversational turns and language ability changed when the child's nonverbal behaviors were considered in addition to verbal conversational turns. To limit the potential of socioeconomic status as a confounder, participants included only families living in underresourced households. Method: Secondary analyses were conducted using baseline data (N = 41 dyads enrolled, N = 27 analyzed) from a longitudinal study. All families were living in low-income households (i.e., below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level) and 12 were English-Spanish bilingual (15 English-only). Mothers and their children (13 to 27 months) participated in video-recorded play and reading interactions at home. Trained observers transcribed and coded the child's and caregiver's verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Linear regression models examined the relationship between the number of conversational turns and child language ability. Results: Child language ability was significantly and positively associated with the number of verbal-nonverbal single turns and multiturn conversational episodes, but not single verbal-only turns. Conclusions: For children still acquiring language, it is important to account for nonverbal contributions to conversation. Child language ability was significantly and positively associated only with the conversational turn variables that included the child's nonverbal behaviors. Further investigation is needed to understand whether number of turns within conversational episodes is a better indicator of interaction quality than sheer number of conversational turns. Implications for caregiver-implemented interventions are discussed.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between interaction quality and child language ability. The findings suggest that child language ability is positively associated with the frequency of multiturn conversational episodes and the number of verbal-nonverbal turns, but not with the number of single verbal turns. It highlights the importance of considering nonverbal contributions to conversation when assessing child language ability.