Article contents
Object Shape and Depth of Word Representations in Preschoolers
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 January 2023
Abstract
This study examined the effect of a shape cue (i.e., co-speech gesture) on word depth. We taught 23 preschoolers (M = 3;5 years, SD = 5.82) novel objects with either shape (SHP) or indicator (IND) gestures. SHP gestures mimicked object form, but IND gestures were not semantically related to the object (e.g., an upward-facing palm, extended toward the object). Each object had a unique IND or SHP gesture. Outcome measures reflected richer semantic and phonological learning in the SHP than in the IND condition. In the SHP condition, preschoolers (a) expressed more semantic knowledge, (b) said more sounds in names, and (c) generalized more names to untaught objects. There were also fewer disruptions to prime picture names in the SHP condition; we discuss the benefit of a co-speech shape gesture to capitalize on well-established statistical word learning patterns.
- Type
- Article
- Information
- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press
References
A correction has been issued for this article:
- 1
- Cited by
Linked content
Please note a has been issued for this article.