Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life
Abstract Abstract words, terms not referring to here and now, are acquired slowly in infancy. They are difficult to acquire as they are more detached from sensory modalities than concrete words. Recent theories propose that, because of their complexity, other people are pivotal for abstract concepts...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25426-5 |
| _version_ | 1811190284828016640 |
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| author | Francesca Bellagamba Anna M. Borghi Claudia Mazzuca Giulia Pecora Fabiana Ferrara Alan Fogel |
| author_facet | Francesca Bellagamba Anna M. Borghi Claudia Mazzuca Giulia Pecora Fabiana Ferrara Alan Fogel |
| author_sort | Francesca Bellagamba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Abstract words, terms not referring to here and now, are acquired slowly in infancy. They are difficult to acquire as they are more detached from sensory modalities than concrete words. Recent theories propose that, because of their complexity, other people are pivotal for abstract concepts’ acquisition and use. Eight children (4 girls) and their mothers were observed longitudinally and extensively from 12 to 24 months of age. Video recordings of mother-infant free play with toys were done every two weeks in a laboratory setting with families in the USA. Children progressively use a range of words referring to abstract concepts, with a major shift from 12 to 15 months and again from 22 to 24 months, but the qualitative data testify an incremental growth of abstract concepts. We identified a progression in the acquisition of words denoting abstract concepts in relation to the overall productive vocabulary, suggesting that having more abstract terms in one’s vocabulary promotes faster language acquisition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:48:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f845156018614556bc5c5c2b1f8048f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:48:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f845156018614556bc5c5c2b1f8048f42022-12-22T04:17:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-0112111510.1038/s41598-022-25426-5Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of lifeFrancesca Bellagamba0Anna M. Borghi1Claudia Mazzuca2Giulia Pecora3Fabiana Ferrara4Alan Fogel5Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of RomeInstitute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italian National Research CouncilDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Psychology, University of UtahAbstract Abstract words, terms not referring to here and now, are acquired slowly in infancy. They are difficult to acquire as they are more detached from sensory modalities than concrete words. Recent theories propose that, because of their complexity, other people are pivotal for abstract concepts’ acquisition and use. Eight children (4 girls) and their mothers were observed longitudinally and extensively from 12 to 24 months of age. Video recordings of mother-infant free play with toys were done every two weeks in a laboratory setting with families in the USA. Children progressively use a range of words referring to abstract concepts, with a major shift from 12 to 15 months and again from 22 to 24 months, but the qualitative data testify an incremental growth of abstract concepts. We identified a progression in the acquisition of words denoting abstract concepts in relation to the overall productive vocabulary, suggesting that having more abstract terms in one’s vocabulary promotes faster language acquisition.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25426-5 |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Bellagamba Anna M. Borghi Claudia Mazzuca Giulia Pecora Fabiana Ferrara Alan Fogel Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life Scientific Reports |
| title | Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| title_full | Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| title_fullStr | Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| title_short | Abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| title_sort | abstractness emerges progressively over the second year of life |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25426-5 |
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