Gender Effects in Lexical and Morphosyntactic Acquisition of Arabic: A CDI Study
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| Title: | Gender Effects in Lexical and Morphosyntactic Acquisition of Arabic: A CDI Study |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lina Hashoul-Essa (ORCID |
| Source: | First Language. 2025 45(3):231-259. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Arabic, Gender Differences, Morphology (Languages), Syntax, Language Acquisition, Foreign Countries, Vocabulary Development, Sociocultural Patterns, Measures (Individuals), Infants, Toddlers, Dialects, Language Skills |
| Geographic Terms: | Palestine, Israel |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories |
| DOI: | 10.1177/01427237251329971 |
| ISSN: | 0142-7237 1740-2344 |
| Abstract: | Research suggests that girls acquire language faster than boys, with gender differences most pronounced in vocabulary acquisition during early childhood. This study examines the role of gender in the acquisition of vocabulary and morphosyntax in Palestinian Arabic-speaking children aged 18 to 36 months. Using the Palestinian Arabic Communicative Development Inventories, this study analyzes lexical and morphosyntactic development in 1399 children, highlighting month-by-month differences between boys and girls. Significant gender differences favoring girls were observed in both lexical and morphosyntactic abilities, with girls outperforming boys in vocabulary production and morphosyntactic ability at various stages, even after excluding gendered words from the analysis; however, effect sizes were small. The gender gap diminished by 36 months. These findings align with previous studies on European languages and contribute to our understanding of early language acquisition in Arabic, suggesting that both biological and sociocultural factors may account for the observed gender differences. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1474310 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Research suggests that girls acquire language faster than boys, with gender differences most pronounced in vocabulary acquisition during early childhood. This study examines the role of gender in the acquisition of vocabulary and morphosyntax in Palestinian Arabic-speaking children aged 18 to 36 months. Using the Palestinian Arabic Communicative Development Inventories, this study analyzes lexical and morphosyntactic development in 1399 children, highlighting month-by-month differences between boys and girls. Significant gender differences favoring girls were observed in both lexical and morphosyntactic abilities, with girls outperforming boys in vocabulary production and morphosyntactic ability at various stages, even after excluding gendered words from the analysis; however, effect sizes were small. The gender gap diminished by 36 months. These findings align with previous studies on European languages and contribute to our understanding of early language acquisition in Arabic, suggesting that both biological and sociocultural factors may account for the observed gender differences. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0142-7237 1740-2344 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/01427237251329971 |
