Expressive Vocabulary Development and Word Combinations of Spanish-English Bilingual Toddlers

Abstract

Parent reports of their children’s expressive vocabulary and word combinations were obtained for 102 21- to 27-month-old children who were exposed to Spanish and English on a regular basis. The data were collected using an adapted version of the Language Development Survey (Rescorla, 1989). Expressive vocabulary size increased with age, and the girls’ mean vocabulary was larger than the boys’ mean vocabulary. Means, medians, and ranges of expressive vocabulary size and percentage of children combining words are presented, and potential screening guidelines are discussed.