Variance in the metrical data of language tests has seldom been analysed regarding its possible meaning for children’s linguistic development. In the present study, variance in the language test results of German four-year-olds was analysed regarding its associations with some influencing factors on the children’s linguistic development in German. All children (n = 1,791) were tested with language screenings KiSS.2, SSV as well as with “quasi-universal” non-words. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of children and their families were documented in KiSS.2 questionnaires for parents and kindergarten teachers. Variance in the total scores of correct answers was compared for numerous dichotomous subgroups of children (e.g., “boys vs. girls”) by means of the Levene’s test. Two subgroups of influencing factors on children’s linguistic development were detected: (a) risk factors that are weakly associated with deficient German language skills, that is, with many exceptions, and (b) critically unfavourable risk factors that are almost always associated with deficient German language skills. The former show a large variance in the data, the latter a small variance. For instance, bilinguals (compared to German monolinguals) are those who tend to acquire German comparatively slowly and show a large variance. Children speaking Turkish language at home are among those who almost always lag behind in the German language acquisition, with minimal variance. Most risk factors result in a large variance but there are also some critically unfavourable risk factors that show a minimal variance because they are closely associated with the deficient German language competence.

Authors:
Eugen Zaretsky, Marburg University, Germany
Benjamin P. Lange, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Christiane Hey, Marburg University, Germany

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Eugen Zaretsky is currently a researcher (post-doc) at the Department of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, University of Marburg

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