Methodology
We have followed the language-learning journey of two age-cohorts of children. 鈥淐ohort A鈥 were approximately 20 months old in January 2005 and 鈥淐ohort B鈥 were approximately 36 months old in January 2005.
Each child in the study was video-recorded for approximately 45 minutes once every two weeks. In this way, over time, we obtain regular hour-long 鈥渟napshots鈥 of their linguistic progress. Our Methodology section will tell you more about actual procedure. By 鈥渘aturalistic,鈥 we mean that the children are video-recorded in a natural setting -- at home, or playing in a familiar area. We don鈥檛 administer any language tests to the children -- this study merely follows the natural development of each child鈥檚 language skills, each learning at his or her own pace, until the child has 鈥渁cquired鈥 the adult Cree grammar.