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Updated: Aug 19, 2025
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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
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Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life
Francesca Bellagamba1, Anna M Borghi2,3, Claudia Mazzuca2
1Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. francesca.bellagamba@uniroma1.it.
Scientific Reports
|December 3, 2022
Summary
Children slowly acquire abstract words, which are detached from immediate experiences. Social interaction is key for learning these complex terms, with vocabulary growth accelerating language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Abstract words are challenging for infants to acquire due to their detachment from sensory input.
- Social interaction is theorized to be crucial for the acquisition and use of abstract concepts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally observe the acquisition of abstract words in infants.
- To investigate the relationship between abstract vocabulary growth and overall language development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal observation of 8 children and their mothers from 12 to 24 months of age.
- Video recordings of mother-infant free play sessions conducted bi-weekly in a laboratory setting.
- Analysis of word acquisition patterns in relation to productive vocabulary.
Main Results:
- Children showed progressive use of abstract words, with significant shifts observed between 12-15 and 22-24 months.
- Qualitative data indicated incremental growth in abstract concept understanding.
- A positive correlation was found between the number of abstract terms and the pace of language acquisition.
Conclusions:
- The acquisition of abstract words follows a developmental progression in early childhood.
- Increased use of abstract vocabulary appears to facilitate faster overall language acquisition.
- Social interaction plays a pivotal role in mastering abstract language concepts.
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