Related Experiment Videos
Infants' ability to consult the speaker for clues to word reference
1University of British Columbia.
Journal of Child Language
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Infants aged 1;2 to 1;7 develop skills in learning new words. By 1;7, they can better identify referents when labels conflict with their focus, showing improved word-object mapping.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Infants learn language through various social cues.
- Understanding how infants map words to objects is crucial for language acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if infants actively seek referential information from speakers.
- To examine developmental changes in infants' word-object mapping abilities between 1;2 and 1;7 years old.
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight infants (aged 1;2-1;7) were exposed to novel labels for objects in follow-in and discrepant labeling situations.
- Comprehension and preference questions were used to assess word-object mapping and rule out preferential responding.
Main Results:
- Infants aged 1;2-1;3 struggled to establish stable word-object links, even with direct attention.
- Only infants aged 1;6-1;7 successfully identified referents in discrepant labeling scenarios.
- Developmental improvements were observed in establishing word-object mappings under minimal learning conditions.
Conclusions:
- The period between 1;2 and 1;7 years is critical for developing word-object mapping skills.
- Infants become more adept at acquiring new labels and pinpointing referents as they mature.