Infants who are rarely spoken to nevertheless understand many words.

ABSTRACT: Theories of language development-informed largely by studies of Western, middleclass infants-have highlighted the language that caregivers direct to children as a key driver of language learning. However, some have argued that language development unfolds similarly across environmental contexts, including those in which childdirected language is scarce. This raises the possibility that children are able to learn from other sources of language in their environments, particularly the language directed to others in their environment. We explore this hypothesis with infants in an indigenous Tseltal-speaking community in Southern Mexico who are rarely spoken to, yet have the opportunity to overhear a great deal of other-directed language by virtue of being carried on their mothers' backs. Adapt

SUBMITTER: Foushee R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11161804 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature