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Related Concept Videos

Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

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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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According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
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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.
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Language Development01:22

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Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
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The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those...
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Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
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Updated: Sep 22, 2025

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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Intersubjectivity and the Emergence of Words.

Herbert S Terrace1, Ann E Bigelow2, Beatrice Beebe3

  • 1Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.

Frontiers in Psychology
|May 23, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Early infant communication, or primary intersubjectivity, is foundational for language development. Understanding this early connection is key to understanding how infants learn to use words.

Keywords:
bi-directional communicationcontingencydyadic relationshipintersubjectivityjoint attentiontriadic relationshipwords

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Evolutionary Anthropology

Background:

  • Intersubjectivity, crucial for language acquisition, involves two stages: primary and secondary.
  • Primary intersubjectivity (dyadic coordination) begins at birth, while secondary intersubjectivity (triadic coordination) emerges around 9 months.
  • Existing research often overemphasizes secondary intersubjectivity, neglecting the foundational role of primary intersubjectivity and its evolutionary origins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical role of primary intersubjectivity in infant word emergence.
  • To connect research on infant-mother communication to joint attention and word acquisition.
  • To explore the evolutionary basis of intersubjectivity and its uniquely human aspects.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review connecting primary intersubjectivity research with joint attention.
  • Analysis of bi-directional and contingent communication in infant-mother dyads.
  • Discussion of evolutionary hypotheses, including the role of alloparents.

Main Results:

  • Primary intersubjectivity, characterized by contingent communication, forms the basis for secondary intersubjectivity.
  • Early dyadic interactions are essential precursors to shared attention and subsequent word production.
  • The evolutionary trajectory of intersubjectivity underpins the human capacity for language.

Conclusions:

  • Language acquisition is deeply rooted in early non-verbal intersubjective experiences.
  • A comprehensive understanding of language origins requires acknowledging the primacy of early dyadic interactions.
  • The uniquely human capacity for intersubjectivity, shaped by evolutionary pressures, enables word learning.