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Why do infants begin to talk? Language as an unintended consequence

J L Locke1

  • 1Massachusetts General Hospital, USA. J.L.Locke@Sheffield.ac.uk

Journal of Child Language
|June 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study explores why infants begin to talk, focusing on the immediate consequences of vocal learning and utterance storage. It encourages research into behavioral factors driving language development and spoken language proficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Behavioral Biology

Background:

  • Existing research on language development often overlooks the fundamental question of *why* infants begin to talk.
  • Scholarly inquiry typically favors 'how' questions over 'why' questions, particularly in biological sciences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal factors and immediate consequences driving the onset of infant speech.
  • To propose and explore the short- and long-term outcomes of vocal learning and utterance storage in language acquisition.
  • To stimulate research into the behavioral dispositions that facilitate a child's progression toward spoken language proficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of developmental phases leading to speech, including vocal learning and utterance storage.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the immediate consequences for the infant resulting from behaviors contributing to linguistic competence.
  • Illustrative proposals demonstrating the process of analyzing causation through behavioral consequences.

    • Main Results:

    • Vocal learning and utterance storage are identified as key developmental phases preceding speech acquisition.
    • The study outlines potential short- and long-term consequences of these phases and the act of talking itself.
    • A framework is presented for understanding the causation of language development through behavioral analysis.

    Conclusions:

    • Understanding the 'why' behind infant speech is crucial for a comprehensive view of language development.
    • Investigating the immediate consequences of developmental behaviors offers a viable strategy for exploring causation.
    • Further research into behavioral dispositions is encouraged to better support children's journey to spoken language proficiency.