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Inferential language processes across adolescence: A test with novel idioms
Author(s) -
Hattouti Jamila,
Gil Sandrine,
Almecija Yves,
Laval Virginie
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12520
Subject(s) - psychology , comprehension , narrative , context (archaeology) , expression (computer science) , perspective (graphical) , cognitive psychology , inference , task (project management) , test (biology) , developmental psychology , linguistics , computer science , paleontology , philosophy , management , artificial intelligence , economics , biology , programming language
Idiom comprehension relies on the ability to draw inferences from different cues in a communication situation. Adopting a developmental perspective, we investigated how this ability changes across adolescence. To this end, we designed a computerized system that allowed us to simulate a communication situation through short videos placing participants at the center of the interaction. Four groups of participants (11, 13, 15, and adult students) performed an idiomatic expression comprehension task, in which idiom familiarity was controlled. We manipulated the idioms’ transparency (vs. opacity) and presentation (supportive narrative context inducing an idiomatic interpretation of the expression vs. nonsupportive narrative context). Analyses revealed an improvement in idiom comprehension in terms of contextual inferences but they failed to reveal any significant difference in terms of semantic inferences. This study yields fresh arguments in support of the notion that inferential ability based on context continues to develop beyond childhood.