Determining the core vocabulary used by Sepedi-speaking children during regular preschool activities

Abstract

Purpose

In order to provide equitable communication intervention and support services to clients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the development of language-specific resources for assessment and intervention is needed. The purpose of the study was to develop a core vocabulary list based on language samples from Sepedi-speaking children, in order to make it available as a resource to inform vocabulary selection for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for children in need of AAC from a Sepedi language background.

Method

The speech of six typically developing Sepedi-speaking children aged 5–6 years was recorded using small body-worn audio recording devices. Children were recorded during their regular pre-school day. The recordings were transcribed, coded and analysed.

Result

The composite transcript consisted of 17 579 words, of which 1023 were different words. The core vocabulary was determined by identifying all words that were used with a minimal frequency of 0.05%, and were used by at least half of the participants. The Sepedi core vocabulary consisted of 226 words that accounted for 88.1% of the composite sample.

Conclusion

The core vocabulary determined in this study represents a small pool of reusable linguistic elements that form the grammatical framework of the Sepedi language. As such, is a valuable resource that can be used to assist with vocabulary selection for children who require AAC and who come from a Sepedi language background.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• children
• core vocabulary
• pre-school
• Sepedi
• vocabulary selection

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the children who participated in the study and their parents, the principals and other school staff who provided access to the premises and assistance with logistical arrangements, as well as the research assistants.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The authors further report that they are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa [TTK150617119597].