Words and Gestures: Infants' Interpretations of Different Forms of Symbolic Reference.

Namy, Laura L.; Waxman, Sandra R.

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ564397

Record Type: Journal

Publication Date: 1998

Pages: N/A

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ISSN: ISSN-0009-3920

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Words and Gestures: Infants' Interpretations of Different Forms of Symbolic Reference.

Namy, Laura L.; Waxman, Sandra R.

Child Development, v69 n2 p295-308 Apr 1998

Three experiments examined the relation between language acquisition and other symbolic abilities in 18- and 26-month-olds. Found that 18-month-olds spontaneously interpreted gestures, like words, as names for object categories. At 26 months, they spontaneously interpreted words as names and novel gestures as names only when given additional practice with the gestural medium. (Author/KB)

Descriptors: Age Differences, Developmental Stages, Infant Behavior, Infants, Language Acquisition, Sign Language, Symbolic Learning, Toddlers

Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

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Authoring Institution: N/A

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Author Affiliations: N/A