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Talking About the Absent and the Abstract: Referential Communication in Language and Gesture
Elena Luchkina1,2, Sandra Waxman1,2
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
Summary
We propose that a referential link enables language to convey absent information. This capability, crucial for learning abstract concepts, develops early in humans and shows parallels in primate gestures.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Human language uniquely allows discussion of absent or abstract concepts.
- A referential link between words, referents, and mental representations is proposed as the mechanism.
- This link facilitates "absent reference," enabling access to non-present information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the developmental and evolutionary origins of absent reference.
- To integrate research on absent reference in human language and gesture.
- To examine absent reference in nonhuman primate gesture.
Main Methods:
- Review of developmental literature on infant language acquisition.
- Analysis of infant gesture studies.
- Examination of nonhuman primate gesture research.
Main Results:
- Absent reference acquisition in infants is linked to language development.
- Evidence for absent reference is found in infant and primate gestures.
- Parallels exist between human and primate gestural communication regarding absent reference.
Conclusions:
- The referential link is fundamental for absent reference and abstract thought.
- Understanding absent reference requires integrating human and nonhuman primate studies.
- Future research can clarify the development of reference and abstract learning.
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