The Child Language Assessment Project (CLASP) was a seven-year research project, funded by the NIDCD. Team members re-evaluated measures used in assessment of children's spoken and written language samples (Language Sample Analysis/LSA), and created algorithms for bias-free assessment of samples from children who speak non-mainstream dialects of American English. We analyzed the existing corpora online, in the CHILDES database, and also collected new data from around the country. The aim was to gain a greater understanding of non-mainstream dialects of American English to develop norms for speakers of these dialects. Our ultimate goal was to create clinician-friendly software to help speech-language pathologists analyze language samples so they may differentiate between difference and disorder.
This project was funded by the Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids Initiative (TALK). Specifically, this initiative looked into the late development of language in children.
This research was being conducted by Dr. Nan Bernstein Ratner at the University of Maryland, College Park and Dr. Brian MacWhinney at Carnegie-Mellon University.
This project was funded by the Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids Initiative (TALK). Specifically, this initiative looked into the late development of language in children.
This research was being conducted by Dr. Nan Bernstein Ratner at the University of Maryland, College Park and Dr. Brian MacWhinney at Carnegie-Mellon University.
RESOURCES
CHILDES English - North American data
https://childes.talkbank.org/access/Eng-NA/
Research articles on child language acquisition/disorders
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Nan+Bernstein+Ratner&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2…
Yang, J. S., MacWhinney, B. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2021). The Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn): Psychometric properties and suggested modifications. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31 (1), 239-256. DOI: 10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00084; PMID: 34748390; PMCID: PMC9135028.
MacWhinney, B. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2022). Dynamic norming and open science. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 65, 1183-1185. doi: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00019. PMID: 35192372; PMCID: PMC9150751.
Yang, J.S., Rosvold, C. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2022). Measurement of lexical diversity in children’s spoken language: computational and conceptual considerations. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 905789. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.905789. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35814069
Bernstein Ratner, N. & Brian MacWhinney (2022). Assessment and therapy goal planning using free Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) software. Perspectives of the Special Interest Division on Language and Language Learning Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_PERSP-22-00156
Francois, I., Lapka, S., Bernstein Ratner, N., & Mills, M. T. (2023). Assessing for developmental language disorder in the context of African American English. Evidence-based Practice Reviews, 16, 1-8.
Bernstein Ratner, N., Han, Y., & Yang, J. S. (2024). Should we stop using lexical diversity measures in children's language sample analysis? American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00457. PMID: 38838249
Bernstein Ratner, N. (2024) Augmenting clinical insights with computing: How TalkBank has impacted assessment and treatment of speech and language disorders. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 44, 31-40. https://doi.org/10.32038/ltrq.2024.44.05
Strazzeri, M., Harring, J., & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2025). Multiphase structured latent curve models for count response data; a re-analysis of the acquisition of morphology in English. Psykometrica.
Bernstein Ratner, N., MacWhinney, B. Hong, Y. & Yang, J.S. (2025). Developmental Sentence Scoring: a psychometric update. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
https://childes.talkbank.org/access/Eng-NA/
Research articles on child language acquisition/disorders
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Nan+Bernstein+Ratner&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2…
Yang, J. S., MacWhinney, B. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2021). The Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn): Psychometric properties and suggested modifications. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31 (1), 239-256. DOI: 10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00084; PMID: 34748390; PMCID: PMC9135028.
MacWhinney, B. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2022). Dynamic norming and open science. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 65, 1183-1185. doi: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00019. PMID: 35192372; PMCID: PMC9150751.
Yang, J.S., Rosvold, C. & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2022). Measurement of lexical diversity in children’s spoken language: computational and conceptual considerations. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 905789. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.905789. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35814069
Bernstein Ratner, N. & Brian MacWhinney (2022). Assessment and therapy goal planning using free Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) software. Perspectives of the Special Interest Division on Language and Language Learning Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_PERSP-22-00156
Francois, I., Lapka, S., Bernstein Ratner, N., & Mills, M. T. (2023). Assessing for developmental language disorder in the context of African American English. Evidence-based Practice Reviews, 16, 1-8.
Bernstein Ratner, N., Han, Y., & Yang, J. S. (2024). Should we stop using lexical diversity measures in children's language sample analysis? American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00457. PMID: 38838249
Bernstein Ratner, N. (2024) Augmenting clinical insights with computing: How TalkBank has impacted assessment and treatment of speech and language disorders. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 44, 31-40. https://doi.org/10.32038/ltrq.2024.44.05
Strazzeri, M., Harring, J., & Bernstein Ratner, N. (2025). Multiphase structured latent curve models for count response data; a re-analysis of the acquisition of morphology in English. Psykometrica.
Bernstein Ratner, N., MacWhinney, B. Hong, Y. & Yang, J.S. (2025). Developmental Sentence Scoring: a psychometric update. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
Grants to support the Child Language Assessment Project (CLASP) come from:
- NIDCD: 1R01DC016076-01(Nan Bernstein Ratner, PI): 2018-2025) Validation and norming of children's expressive language sample analysis measures
- NIDCD 3R01DC017152-05S1. (Nan Bernstein Ratner, PI); 2023-2025. TALK: Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids – predictors of recovery from late talking in toddlers
- NIDCD 1R21DC022307-01A1 2025-2027. Role: PI. Academic impacts of language delay on written discourse.
This is the "Persuade" grant