Abstract To address the major limitations of previous research on child language development, this paper proposes a multi-comparative approach, viz. (i) comparisons are made across different populations and developmental stages using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal designs; (ii) comparisons are conducted between laboratory and open environments that incorporate crucial home environmental factors; and (iii) comparisons are made across typologically distinct languages using the rich diversity of Chinese languages. By elaborating on the multi-comparative approach, the paper aims to point towards three essential “shifts” in the field of child language research: (i) to construct causal models instead of investigating simple correlations; (ii) to study language development in natural environment rather than in laboratory settings; and (iii) to focus on the rich diversity of Chinese languages instead of merely looking for comparisons between Chinese and Indo-European languages.
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