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Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
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Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
Language Development01:22

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Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
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The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
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Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Children creating core properties of language: evidence from an emerging sign language in Nicaragua.

Ann Senghas1, Sotaro Kita, Asli Ozyürek

  • 1Department of Psychology, Barnard College of Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA. annie@alum.mit.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Children spontaneously created a new sign language, demonstrating innate language-learning abilities. They segmented complex events and structured expressions hierarchically, establishing foundational language principles.

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Anthropology

Background:

  • A novel Nicaraguan sign language emerged organically over 25 years.
  • This provides a unique window into language genesis and universal linguistic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To observe the initial creation and linguistic development of a new sign language.
  • To identify the role of children in establishing fundamental language structures.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of early Nicaraguan sign language gestural forms.
  • Observation of successive learner cohorts and their linguistic contributions.

Main Results:

  • Children segmented complex events into basic elements and created hierarchical structures.
  • These principles were not present in surrounding spoken language gestures.
  • Later learners refined the gestural system into a complex linguistic system.

Conclusions:

  • Children's early segmentation and recombination abilities are key to language acquisition and perpetuation.
  • Innate learning mechanisms in children provide language with its core structure.