Abstract
Longform recordings — passive audio recordings that capture the audio environment around a child, often for a full day — contribute to our understanding of language acquisition. This manuscript focuses on the practice of investigating children’s natural language experiences using longform recordings and the contributions of international scientific consortia to advancing this methodology. Drawing on a sys-tematic literature search identifying 378 studies, we describe the history of longform recordings, syn-thesize key research findings, and identify opportunities for growth. Further, we describe the impact of international collaborative communities on this work. In particular, we highlight the role of DARCLE (Daylong Recordings of Children’s Linguistic Environments), an international consortium of researchers that, starting in 2014, has spurred major advances in the field, including data sharing platforms and annotation norms, open-source technology for quantifying children’s language environments, and a set of best practices for conducting this research in diverse environments. This community of open discus-sion and data sharing serves as a model for advancing rigor, accessibility, and scale. We conclude with recommendations both to further strengthen research with longform recordings and for international research communities across disciplines.