Comparison of Chunking Abilities Based on Language Experience Between Typically Developing and Language-Delayed Korean-English Bilingual Children

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the linguistic chunking abilities of Korean-English bilingual typically developing children (TD) and children with language delay (LD). It also examined the impact of language experience on chunking task performance. Chunking, a working memory domain, involves integrating new information with existing knowledge to expand memory capacity. Methods: The study involved 23 bilingual TD children and 14 LD children aged 4 to 6 years. A word-list recall task was conducted, manipulating order (sentence vs. random), word count (3, 5, 7), and language (Korean, English). Parents completed the Bilingual Input and Output Survey. Task performance accuracy, analyzed as the percentage of correct responses, was evaluated using three-way mixed repeated-measures ANOVA and correlation analysis. Results: TD children outperformed LD children, with higher accuracy in the sentence order condition compared to random order. Performance decreased with increasing word count and was better in Korean tasks than in English tasks. Time spent using and being exposed to each language positively influenced TD children’s performance. In contrast, simultaneous exposure to both languages negatively impacted LD children’s performance. Conclusion: Linguistic chunking tasks are valuable for assessing bilingual children’s language development status. Language experience significantly affects chunking abilities, highlighting the need for tailored interventions for bilingual children with language delay.