Development of sentence interpretation strategies by typically developing and late-talking toddlers

Three studies, designed to examine use of word order and animacy for interp retation of sentences by 21 typically-developing two-year-old, 23 typically -developing two-and-one-half-year-old, 16 typically-developing three-year-o ld, 17 language-delayed two-and-one-half-year-old and 19 language-delayed t hree-year-old children were carried out. Results indicated that typically-d eveloping two-year olds used neither cue consistently to interpret sentence s. Typically-developing two-and-one-half-year olds, on the other hand used a coalition of word order and animacy cues and language-delayed two-and-one -half-year olds used neither cue. At three years of age both groups of chil dren used word order exclusively to interpret sentences.