Cited by 241Child and Animal Learning DevelopmentLanguage Development and DisordersCategorization, perception, and language

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

Namy, Laura L., Waxman, Sandra R.·1998·Child Development

Abstract

In 3 experiments, we examine the relation between language acquisition and other symbolic abilities in the early stages of language acquisition. We introduce 18- and 26-month-olds to object categories (e.g., fruit, vehicles) using a novel word or a novel symbolic gesture to name the objects. We compare the influence of these two symbolic forms on infants' object categorization. Children at both ages interpreted novel words as names for object categories. However, infants' interpretations of gestures changed over development. At 18 months, infants spontaneously interpreted gestures, like words, as names for object categories; at 26 months, infants spontaneously interpreted words but not gestures as names. The older infants succeeded in interpreting novel gestures as names only when given additional practice with the gestural medium. This clear developmental pattern supports the prediction that an initial general ability to learn symbols (both words and gestures) develops into a more focused tendency to use words as the predominant symbolic form.

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Crossref · 10.2307/1132165

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Authors
Namy, L. L., & Waxman, S. R.
Affiliations
Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
Namy, Laura L.
Venue
Child Development
Published
1998-04
Volume
69
Issue
2
Pages
295
ISSN
0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2010174756
Cited by
241
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 13
FWCI
9.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Child Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 2873)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Categorization, perception, and language
Keywords
symbolic references, gesture comprehension, word interpretation, infant language acquisition, object classification, symbolic learning, word learning, gesture learning, novel words
MeSH terms
Psychology, Child, Female, Gestures, Humans, Infant, Language Development, Male, Mental Recall, Sign Language, Symbolism, Verbal Learning, Vocabulary

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