Verbal Imitation in 1 to 2-Year-Old Children

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the verbal imitation of words and nonwords in children aged 1 to 2 years old. Methods: The study involved four age groups, each six months apart, ranging from 1 to 2 years of age. The children were asked to repeat 12 real words and 12 nonwords, with corresponding reference materials. The responses were classified as correct, incorrect, or no responses. The incorrect responses were further analyzed to identify patterns, including whole-word errors, segmental errors, babbling, and different vocabulary responses. Verbal imitation performances were compared in terms of age and word types. Results: The ratio of no responses in verbal imitation decreased significantly, while the ratio of correct responses increased significantly between the late 1-year and early 2-year age groups. The interaction effect between word types and age in the correct responses of verbal imitation was significant, indicating that 1-year-old and early 2-year-old children did not show significant differences between words and nonwords, whereas late 2-year-old children exhibited better imitation performances for words compared to nonwords. Children produced significantly higher ratios of incorrect responses in verbal imitation for nonwords compared to words. Babbling accounted for more than half of the incorrect responses produced by the early 1-year-olds, which dramatically decreased in older children groups and was seldom observed among 2-year-olds. The late 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds primarily demonstrated whole-word error patterns in both word and non-word imitations. Conclusion: This study confirmed that verbal imitation abilities significantly increased in accordance with children’s growing stage of phonological and lexical development.