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How an appreciation of conventionality shapes early word learning
Author(s) -
Sabbagh Mark A.,
Henderson Annette M. E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
new directions for child and adolescent development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1534-8687
pISSN - 1520-3247
DOI - 10.1002/cd.180
Subject(s) - word learning , psychology , word (group theory) , cognitive psychology , linguistics , cognitive science , philosophy , vocabulary
Abstract Children's sensitivity to the shared, conventional nature of word meanings makes their word learning more efficient and less prone to error. After reviewing the evidence in support of this claim, we suggest that children's earliest appreciation of conventionality might be rooted in limitations in their theory‐of‐mind skills.