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Cited by 109Language Development and DisordersChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentLanguage and cultural evolution

Infants’ intentionally communicative vocalizations elicit responses from caregivers and are the best predictors of the transition to language: A longitudinal investigation of infants’ vocalizations, gestures and word production

Donnellan, Ed, Bannard, Colin, McGillion, Michelle L., Slocombe, Katie E., Matthews, Danielle·2020·Developmental Science
DOI 10.1111/desc.12843
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Abstract

What aspects of infants’ prelinguistic communication are most valuable for learning to speak, and why? We test whether early vocalizations and gestures drive the transition to word use because, in addition to indicating motoric readiness, they (a) are early instances of intentional communication and (b) elicit verbal responses from caregivers. In study 1, 11 month olds ( N = 134) were observed to coordinate vocalizations and gestures with gaze to their caregiver's face at above chance rates, indicating that they are plausibly intentionally communicative. Study 2 tested whether those infant communicative acts that were gaze‐coordinated best predicted later expressive vocabulary. We report a novel procedure for predicting vocabulary via multi‐model inference over a comprehensive set of infant behaviours produced at 11 and 12 months ( n = 58). This makes it possible to establish the relative predictive value of different behaviours that are hierarchically organized by level of granularity. Gaze‐coordinated vocalizations were the most valuable predictors of expressive vocabulary size up to 24 months. Study 3 established that caregivers were more likely to respond to gaze‐coordinated behaviours. Moreover, the dyadic combination of infant gaze‐coordinated vocalization and caregiver response was by far the best predictor of later vocabulary size. We conclude that practice with prelinguistic intentional communication facilitates the leap to symbol use. Learning is optimized when caregivers respond to intentional vocalizations with appropriate language.

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Cited by

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Authors
Donnellan, E., Bannard, C., McGillion, M. L., Slocombe, K. E., & Matthews, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Sheffield (GB)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
  • University of Warwick (GB)
  • University of York (GB)
Corresponding author
Donnellan, Ed
ORCID
Venue
Developmental Science
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-05-27
Volume
23
Issue
1
Pages
e12843-e12843
ISSN
  • 1363-755X (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-7687
DOI
10.1111/desc.12843
OpenAlex
W2943752631
Cited by
109
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI
20.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (acceptedVersion)
  • Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Nuffield Foundation (EDU40447)
  • British Academy (SG101641)
  • University of Sheffield
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
Keywords
infant vocalizations, intentional communication, prelinguistic communication, gesture, gaze coordination, caregiver responses, expressive vocabulary, word production, predictive validity, multi-model inference, infant language acquisition, symbol use
MeSH terms
Communication, Female, Fixation, Ocular, Gestures, Humans, Infant, Language, Language Development, Male, Vocabulary, Caregivers, Infant Behavior

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