What aspect of word learning can be influenced by the density of a lexical neighborhood?

The influence of lexical neighborhood density on word learning primarily affects the effectiveness of word recognition. Lexical neighborhoods consist of words that are similar in phonological form, meaning that words within a densely populated neighborhood may sound similar or have overlapping phonetic features.

When children or individuals are exposed to words within a dense lexical neighborhood, recognition can be more challenging due to the competition presented by similar-sounding words. This situation requires more refined processing skills to differentiate between similar items, which can impact the speed and accuracy of word retrieval. In contrast, words within a sparse lexical neighborhood, which have fewer similar-sounding counterparts, tend to be recognized more efficiently, as there is less competition for retrieval.

This aspect is crucial for understanding how individuals learn and recognize new vocabulary, especially for those who may be experiencing difficulties in language acquisition or have hearing impairments. The effectiveness of word recognition is a foundational skill that influences subsequent language development and communication skills.