Models of Variable Form Acquisition Should be Informed by Cross-Dialect Studies of Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Abstract

Shin and Mill (2021) propose four steps children go through when learning variable form use. Although I applaud Shin and Miller's focus on morphosyntactic variation, their accrual of evidence is post hoc and selective. Fortunately, Shin and Miller recognize this and encourage tests of their ideas. In support of their work, I share data from children with and without DLD within AAE and SWE to promote these child profiles and dialectal varieties in future studies.