Word spurt, or the rapid expansion of a person’s vocabulary, is a phenomenon that is most often observed in typically developing children between the ages of 18 and 24 months. Research has suggested that the occurrence of word spurt is related to the maturation of the brain’s language centers and the growth of an infant’s phonological awareness. While the exact cause is unknown, some experts believe that the rapid growth of vocabulary is a result of neurological developments that allow an infant to quickly acquire and process language.
The occurrence of word spurt in children has been studied extensively by researchers. One study by Thal and Bates (1994) demonstrated that infants between 18 and 24 months begin to rapidly acquire new words. During this period of language expansion, the researchers observed that the infants were able to acquire a new word every two hours. Furthermore, the study revealed that the rate of word acquisition decreased after 24 months of age.
Other studies have explored the relationship between word spurt and phonological awareness. For example, a study by Mancilla-Martinez, Nelson, and Jusczyk (2010) found that phonological awareness was significantly related to the number of words acquired by infants during the word spurt period. The researchers concluded that the development of phonological awareness is an important factor in the rapid growth of vocabulary during this period.
Word spurt is an important milestone in language development and has been the focus of many research studies. While the exact cause of word spurt is unknown, research has suggested that it is related to the maturation of the brain’s language centers and the growth of an infant’s phonological awareness. Future research should focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of word spurt and how it influences language development.
References
Mancilla-Martinez, J., Nelson, J., & Jusczyk, P. (2010). The role of phonological awareness in the acquisition of words during the word spurt period. Developmental Psychology, 46(6), 1571–1581. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020463
Thal, D., & Bates, E. (1994). Rapid word learning in 18- and 24-month-olds. Developmental Psychology, 30(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.30.2.197