Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents

Previous research has shown that both input quantity and quality play a role in dual language learning. However, it is unclear whether input quantity factors (e.g., school input) and input quality factors (e.g., home media input) work similarly in the language development of bilinguals while other p...

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Main Authors: Ismael Rafaat Faraj, Twana Saadi Hamid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Languages
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/8/3/220
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author Ismael Rafaat Faraj
Twana Saadi Hamid
author_facet Ismael Rafaat Faraj
Twana Saadi Hamid
author_sort Ismael Rafaat Faraj
collection DOAJ
description Previous research has shown that both input quantity and quality play a role in dual language learning. However, it is unclear whether input quantity factors (e.g., school input) and input quality factors (e.g., home media input) work similarly in the language development of bilinguals while other potential internal and external factors are controlled for. This paper addressed this issue through investigating the influence of input quantity and input quality factors, both at the individual and group levels, on morphosyntax, vocabulary size, and lexical access ability in the Kurdish-L1 and English-L2 of Kurdish–English bilingual adolescents. Data were collected via a battery of standardized and researcher-developed measures and a detailed questionnaire. The results from backward regressions revealed that higher parental Kurdish proficiency and more exposure to Kurdish input through siblings and reading activities were associated with better Kurdish morphosyntactic skill, while a larger Kurdish vocabulary size was predicted by more exposure to native-speaker input in Kurdish. Both more Kurdish input received in preschool/school and through Kurdish media were related to better lexical access ability in Kurdish. Further, more exposure to English input in preschool/school predicted better English morphosyntactic skill and a larger vocabulary size, whereas higher paternal English proficiency was associated with better lexical access ability in English. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that input quality was more important in explaining Kurdish morphosyntactic and vocabulary size skills and lexical access ability in both languages, while input quantity explained more variance in English morphosyntactic and vocabulary size skills. Out-of-class Kurdish input outweighed instructional input to a certain extent in relation to Kurdish skills and lexical access ability in English, while instructional English input was more important for English morphosyntax and vocabulary size.
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spelling doaj.art-ea07b40b7db944ffb10194d60282b9f32023-11-19T11:36:14ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2023-09-018322010.3390/languages8030220Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English AdolescentsIsmael Rafaat Faraj0Twana Saadi Hamid1Language and Culture Center, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani 46001, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of English, College of Languages, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani 46001, Kurdistan Region, IraqPrevious research has shown that both input quantity and quality play a role in dual language learning. However, it is unclear whether input quantity factors (e.g., school input) and input quality factors (e.g., home media input) work similarly in the language development of bilinguals while other potential internal and external factors are controlled for. This paper addressed this issue through investigating the influence of input quantity and input quality factors, both at the individual and group levels, on morphosyntax, vocabulary size, and lexical access ability in the Kurdish-L1 and English-L2 of Kurdish–English bilingual adolescents. Data were collected via a battery of standardized and researcher-developed measures and a detailed questionnaire. The results from backward regressions revealed that higher parental Kurdish proficiency and more exposure to Kurdish input through siblings and reading activities were associated with better Kurdish morphosyntactic skill, while a larger Kurdish vocabulary size was predicted by more exposure to native-speaker input in Kurdish. Both more Kurdish input received in preschool/school and through Kurdish media were related to better lexical access ability in Kurdish. Further, more exposure to English input in preschool/school predicted better English morphosyntactic skill and a larger vocabulary size, whereas higher paternal English proficiency was associated with better lexical access ability in English. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that input quality was more important in explaining Kurdish morphosyntactic and vocabulary size skills and lexical access ability in both languages, while input quantity explained more variance in English morphosyntactic and vocabulary size skills. Out-of-class Kurdish input outweighed instructional input to a certain extent in relation to Kurdish skills and lexical access ability in English, while instructional English input was more important for English morphosyntax and vocabulary size.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/8/3/220bilingual developmentindividual differencesinput quantityinput qualitymorphosyntaxvocabulary size
spellingShingle Ismael Rafaat Faraj
Twana Saadi Hamid
Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
Languages
bilingual development
individual differences
input quantity
input quality
morphosyntax
vocabulary size
title Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
title_full Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
title_fullStr Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
title_short Differential Effects of Input Quantity and Input Quality on Bilingual Development: A Study with Kurdish–English Adolescents
title_sort differential effects of input quantity and input quality on bilingual development a study with kurdish english adolescents
topic bilingual development
individual differences
input quantity
input quality
morphosyntax
vocabulary size
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/8/3/220
work_keys_str_mv AT ismaelrafaatfaraj differentialeffectsofinputquantityandinputqualityonbilingualdevelopmentastudywithkurdishenglishadolescents
AT twanasaadihamid differentialeffectsofinputquantityandinputqualityonbilingualdevelopmentastudywithkurdishenglishadolescents