Traditionally, language development has been studied with a focus on childhood, but with an increasing emphasis on language use, there has been a growing interest in language development beyond early childhood. Nevertheless, research on language devel ...
Traditionally, language development has been studied with a focus on childhood, but with an increasing emphasis on language use, there has been a growing interest in language development beyond early childhood. Nevertheless, research on language development beyond early childhood remains limited, and it is challenging to find models that explain language development as a continuous process from early childhood to later stages. Life-span language development models, depicting major developmental patterns occurring at each stage, can aid in understanding the developmental trajectories at different periods. Furthermore, these models can serve as a foundation for identifying specific support needed at each developmental stage. This study aims to establish a language sample database spanning from preschool period to the elderly and to develop a computerized language analysis system for the purpose of language analysis. Based on these resources, the goal is to formulate language development indicators for each developmental stage and construct a comprehensive model of language development across the lifespan. The annual research goals and results for this endeavor are outlined as follows.
In the first year, the goal was to develop protocols for spoken language collection and analysis that could be utilized in language development research and to construct a computerized language analysis system for language analysis. The results of the first year of the study are as follows; A literature review, Focus Group Interviews (FGI) with two expert groups, and a survey study with total 1,351 SLPs (speech language pathologists) were conducted. The H-SAK ver1 Korean language analysis system was developed, and four protocols for spontaneous language sample collection were completed according to developmental stages.
In the second year, the focus was on refining the computerized spoken language analysis system based on the reliability and validity tests of the developed protocols through preliminary research. The results of the second year of the study are as follows; H-SAK1.5 was developed by modifying and enhancing H-SAK1.0. A total of 108 cases of language samples were collected, and data analysis was conducted to assess the reliability of H-SAK1.0 and H-SAK1.5.
In the third year, the objective was to construct a developmental database of spontaneous speech from infancy to old age and use the computerized spoken language analysis system to analyze it, aiming to identify language development indicators across the lifespan. The research successfully completed the collection of 800 cases of spoken language samples from infancy to old age. Transcription and analysis, along with post-editing of the analyzed data, were completed. Ongoing research involves studying key language indicators at different developmental stages, and a monograph-style research report is being written to present the results.
The primary outcomes of the research project are as follows;
1. Development of Spoken Language Collection Protocols: Four conversation-based spoken language collection protocols were developed for different age groups, including preschooler, school-aged children, adolescents, and adults.
2. Development of the Korean Automatic Language Analysis System (K-ALAS): A specialized system, K-ALAS, was developed to automate the analysis of the Korean language, contributing to more efficient and accurate language processing
3. Construction of a Spontaneous Language Sample Database: A comprehensive database consisting of 800 cases of language samples spanning from toddlers to the elderly was established. Morphological analysis (parsing) and annotation (tagging) processes were successfully completed.
4. Publication of Research Papers: A total of 12 research papers were published in academic journals, with 2 papers in SCI journals, 9 in SCOPUS-indexed journals, and 1 in KCI journal. Furthermore, 29 papers were presented at academic conferences.
5. Student Education and Training: A total of 35 student, comprising 10 undergraduate students, 20 master's students, and 5 doctoral students, paricipated in the project. This engagement contributed to their education, training, and eventual graduation.
These achievements highlight the significant contributions and advancements made in the field of language development research, assessment, and technology.
The practical applications of this research are as follows:
1. The language development indicators (markers) identified through this research project at different stages can be used to diagnose and assess individuals who require speech-language therapy and education due to atypical language development. Furthermore, the integrated indicators for each developmental stage can serve as data for setting language education or therapy goals, as well as monitoring progress through treatment.
2. The K-ALAS developed in this research project will facilitate easier language sample analysis for professionals in the field of speech-language therapy and education, and researchers in language development. It can be a valuable tool for conducting language sample analysis in and research settings.
3 Language sample analysis is an essential component of training for experts in the field of language therapy and education. The results obtained from K-ALAS analysis can be utilized to provide feedback in language sample analysis education and training programs.