Relationships Between Infants' Temperament and Early Vocabulary Acquisition

영아의 기질과 초기 어휘 습득의 관계

This study examined the relationship between children's temperament and their early vocabulary acquisition. Mothers of 317 toddlers (18 months of age) completed the Toddler Temperament Scale(Bak, 1996) and a vocabulary checklist(Pae, 2002). Results showed that mood, adaptability, and activity were associated with vocabulary acquisition. Specifically, infants rated as having a positive mood and low activity level acquired more expressive words. On the other hands, infants rated as easily adaptive and low activity level acquired more receptive words. These results suggest that different components of temperament may influence the way in which toddlers acquire vocabulary.