Locals don't have accents: children weigh phonological proficiency over syntactic or semantic proficiency when categorizing individuals

Journal of Child Language
Hyesung G Hwang, Lori Markson

Abstract

Children categorize native-accented speakers as local and non-native-accented speakers as foreign, suggesting they use accent (i.e., phonological proficiency) to determine social group membership. However, it is unclear if accent is the strongest - and only - group marker children use to determine social group membership, or whether other aspects of language, such as syntax and semantics, are also important markers. To test this, five- to eight-year-old monolingual English-speaking children were asked to judge whether individuals who varied in phonological, syntactic, and semantic proficiency were local or foreign. Children were also asked which individual they wanted as a friend. Children prioritized phonological proficiency over syntactic and semantic proficiency to determine social group membership. However, with age, children begin to shift toward prioritizing syntactic and semantic proficiency over phonological proficiency in their friendship decisions, suggesting that the capacity to integrate different aspects of a speaker's linguistic proficiency changes with development.

References

Jul 21, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Katherine D KinzlerElizabeth S Spelke
May 16, 2008·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Torsten HothornPeter Westfall
Jun 17, 2008·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Yarrow DunhamMahzarin R Banaji
Mar 12, 2010·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Agata Gluszek, John F Dovidio
Dec 17, 2010·Developmental Science·Katherine D KinzlerPaul L Harris
Aug 1, 2009·Social Cognition·Katherine D KinzlerElizabeth S Spelke
Jun 13, 2012·Developmental Psychology·Katherine D Kinzler, Jasmine M DeJesus
Aug 15, 2012·Developmental Psychology·David M Sobel, Deanna M Macris
Aug 30, 2013·Journal of Child Language·Laura WagnerJohn K Pate
Jan 16, 2014·Journal of Child Language·Tessa Bent
Feb 15, 2015·Cognition·Elizabeth C Stephens, Melissa A Koenig
Nov 29, 2015·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Drew WeatherheadOri Friedman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 28, 2019·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Elizabeth K Johnson, Katherine S White
Dec 19, 2020·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Madison R Myers-Burg, Douglas A Behrend

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.