Julie A. Washington|Lee Branum?Martin|Congying Sun|Ryan Lee?James
The Impact of Dialect Density on the Growth of Language and Reading in African American Children
Georgia State University|Georgia State University|Georgia State University|Adelphi University
goal current study examine impact dialect density growth oral language reading skills sample african american english aaespeaking children reared urban communitieseight hundred thirtyfive african american children first fifth grades participated using accelerated cohort design univariate bivariate growth models employed examine dialect density oral language reading relationships variablesfor univariate models results indicated dialect density decreased time approximately 5 per year beyond first grade b language skills improved approximately 05 sd per year c reading comprehension increased significantly first second grade slowed 23 per year second fifth grades results bivariate models revealed dialect density language ability negatively associated although dialect density affect change language time b higher dialect density related slower growth readingfindings investigation provide converging evidence accounts extant literature particularly supporting negative relationship dialect density oral language dialect density reading also contributing novel longitudinal evidence suggests changes dialect use time may driven oral language skills reading dialect reciprocal relationship