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Pointing Sets the Stage for Learning Language—and Creating Language
Author(s) -
GoldinMeadow Susan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01029.x
Subject(s) - gesture , psychology , set (abstract data type) , language acquisition , language development , linguistics , function (biology) , communication , cognitive science , nonverbal communication , computer science , developmental psychology , mathematics education , philosophy , evolutionary biology , biology , programming language
Tomasello, Carpenter, and Liszkowski (2007) have argued that pointing gestures do much more than single out objects in the world. Pointing gestures function as part of a system of shared intentionality even at early stages of development. As such, pointing gestures form the platform on which linguistic communication rests, paving the way for later language learning. This commentary provides evidence that pointing gestures do establish a foundation for learning a language and, moreover, set the stage for creating a language.