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MAPLE: A Multilingual Approach to Parent Language Estimates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2019

Krista Byers-Heinlein Open the ORCID record for Krista Byers-Heinlein [Opens in a new window] ,
Esther Schott Open the ORCID record for Esther Schott [Opens in a new window] ,
Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero Open the ORCID record for Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero [Opens in a new window] ,
Melanie Brouillard Open the ORCID record for Melanie Brouillard [Opens in a new window] ,
Daphnée Dubé ,
Amel Jardak ,
Alexandra Laoun-Rubenstein ,
Meghan Mastroberardino ,
Elizabeth Morin-Lessard Open the ORCID record for Elizabeth Morin-Lessard [Opens in a new window]  and
Sadaf Pour Iliaei
...Show all authors
Krista Byers-Heinlein*
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Esther Schott
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Melanie Brouillard
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Daphnée Dubé
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Amel Jardak
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Alexandra Laoun-Rubenstein
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Meghan Mastroberardino
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Elizabeth Morin-Lessard
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Sadaf Pour Iliaei
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Nicholas Salama-Siroishka
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Maria Paula Tamayo
Affiliation:
Concordia University
*
Address for correspondence: Krista Byers-Heinlein, E-mail: k.byers@concordia.ca
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Abstract

Bilingual infants vary in when, how, and how often they hear each of their languages. Variables such as the particular languages of exposure, the community context, the onset of exposure, the amount of exposure, and socioeconomic status are crucial for describing any bilingual infant sample. Parent report is an effective approach for gathering data about infants’ language experience. However, its quality is highly dependent on how information is elicited. This paper introduces a Multilingual Approach to Parent Language Estimates (MAPLE). MAPLE promotes best practices for using structured interviews to reliably elicit information from parents on bilingual infants’ language background, with an emphasis on the challenging task of quantifying infants’ relative exposure to each language. We discuss sensitive issues that must be navigated in this process, including diversity in family characteristics and cultural values. Finally, we identify six systematic effects that can impact parent report, and strategies for minimizing their influence.

Keywords

infantsbilingualismlanguage exposureparent report
Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , November 2020 , pp. 951 - 957
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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