Rapid word learning of children with cochlear implants: Phonological structure and mutual exclusivity

To understand how degraded speech signals with reduced spectral-temporal information impact processes of word learning in children with CIs, the present study utilized a modified version of intermodal preferential looking paradigm to investigate their use of mutual exclusivity and its interaction with phonological structure. Sixteen Mandarin-speaking children with CIs aged from 34.3 and 48.1 months (M = 40.7) were recruited to examine their ability to fast-map two novel words with reduplicated-syllable and disyllable to its corresponding reference, respectively. Familiar objects were paired with novel ones to elicit the possible use of mutual exclusivity. Overall, no significant preferential looking towards target was found for the novel-novel object pairs. The finding indicates that, regardless of the phonological structure, it is challenging for children with CIs to fast map a new word. However, a significantly higher looking proportion was obtained for the disyllabic novel object when it is paired with a familiar one, providing evidence on the use of mutual exclusivity. Furthermore, the absent preferential effect for the novel object with reduplicated-syllable over the familiar one suggests that the phonological structure seems to modulate the effect of mutual exclusivity. Implications for phonological structure and mutual exclusivity are discussed.