Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Speaking Out for Language

2010; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 39; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3102/0013189x10370204

1935-102X

David K. Dickinson, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Kathy Hirsh‐Pasek,

Language Development and Disorders

Although the National Early Literacy Panel report provides an important distillation of research, the manner in which the data are reported underrepresents the importance of language. Unlike other predictors with moderate associations with later reading, language exerts pervasive and indirect influences that are not described by the effect sizes used in the meta-analysis. Also, unlike code-related skills that develop rapidly during the years studied, language develops over an extended time span. Because it is relatively difficult to devise interventions that dramatically alter children’s language abilities, the authors of this response are concerned that schools will target the more malleable code-based skills. They warn against such a move.