Complex syntax production of African American preschoolers

This study examined changes in the complex syntax production of 85 3- and 4 -year-old African American children and the role of child (i.e., gender, ag e, African American English) and family (i.e., home environment) factors. T he mean percentage of utterances containing one or more complex syntax form s was 6.2% at 3 years and 11.7% at 4 years. Girls produced more complex syn tax forms than did boys. Complex syntax production increased significantly between age 3 and age 4 and correlated positively with mean length of utter ance in words. Children from more responsive and stimulating home environme nts produced more complex syntax at 4 years. African American English was n ot related to the amount of complex syntax used.