Why are dunkels sticky? Preschoolers infer functionality and intentional creation for artifact properties learned from generic language

Cognition
Andrei Cimpian, Cristina Cadena

Abstract

Artifacts pose a potential learning problem for children because the mapping between their features and their functions is often not transparent. In solving this problem, children are likely to rely on a number of information sources (e.g., others' actions, affordances). We argue that children's sensitivity to nuances in the language used to describe artifacts is an important, but so far unacknowledged, piece of this puzzle. Specifically, we hypothesize that children are sensitive to whether an unfamiliar artifact's features are highlighted using generic (e.g., "Dunkels are sticky") or non-generic (e.g., "This dunkel is sticky") language. Across two studies, older-but not younger-preschoolers who heard such features introduced via generic statements inferred that they are a functional part of the artifact's design more often than children who heard the same features introduced via non-generic statements. The ability to pick up on this linguistic cue may expand considerably the amount of conceptual information about artifacts that children derive from conversations with adults.

References

Mar 1, 1991·Cognition·S A Gelman, H M Wellman
Sep 1, 1986·Journal of Psycholinguistic Research·M B StevensonJ F Miller
Jul 1, 1996·Cognition·P Bloom
Feb 1, 1997·Cognition·A Needham, R Baillargeon
Nov 4, 2000·Cognition·A Matan, S Carey
Mar 11, 2003·Child Development·Susan A Gelman, Lakshmi Raman
Jan 14, 2005·Developmental Science·Malinda CarpenterMichael Tomasello
May 12, 2006·Child Development·Paul L Harris, Melissa A Koenig
Jun 29, 2006·Developmental Psychology·Rebecca A Williamson, Ellen M Markman
Apr 20, 2007·New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development·Tim P GermanMargaret Anne Defeyter
Apr 20, 2007·New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development·Maureen A CallananMegan R Luce
May 2, 2007·Psychological Science·Andrei CimpianCarol S Dweck
Sep 4, 2007·Cognition·Andrei Cimpian, Ellen M Markman
Jul 1, 2008·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Cara DiYanni, Deborah Kelemen
Jul 18, 2008·Annual Review of Psychology·Susan A Gelman
Mar 17, 2009·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Gergely Csibra, György Gergely
Jan 1, 2009·Language Learning and Development : the Official Journal of the Society for Language Development·Susan A GelmanDedre Gentner
Jan 1, 2008·Language Learning and Development : the Official Journal of the Society for Language Development·Susan A GelmanJonathan Flukes
Mar 19, 2013·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Ildikó KirályGyörgy Gergely

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 31, 2016·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Lucas P Butler, Michael Tomasello
Dec 27, 2011·Cognitive Psychology·Andrei Cimpian, Lucy C Erickson
Mar 17, 2012·Cognition·Andrei Cimpian, Rose M Scott
Mar 23, 2017·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Lin Bian, Andrei Cimpian
Apr 6, 2017·Child Development·Drew WeatherheadKatherine S White
Apr 12, 2017·Child Development·Angie M JohnstonFrank C Keil
Sep 25, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Alexander Noyes, Frank C Keil
Jul 2, 2016·Developmental Science·Daeun ParkSian L Beilock

❮ 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.