Age-related changes in the adult language addressed to children aged 2;0-4;0 years in
polyadic conditions were investigated in Australian childcare centres. The language
that 21 staff members addressed to these children was coded for multiple variables
in the broad social categories of prosody, context, speech act and gesture. The
linguistic components were coded within the categories of phonology, lexicon,
morphology, syntax and referential deixis. Minimal age-related differences were
found. Explanations for the similarity of the adult language input across the age
groups within the early childhood educational environment, will be discussed.
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