Object names and object functions serve as cues to categories for infants.
Can object names and functions act as cues to categories for infants? In Study 1, 14- and 18-month-old infants were shown novel category exemplars along with a function, a name, or no cues. Infants were then asked to "find another one," choosing between 2 novel objects (1 from the familiar category and the other not). Infants at both ages were more likely to select the category match in the function than in the no-cue condition. However, only at 18 months did naming the objects enhance categorization. Study 2 shows that names can facilitate categorization for 14-month-olds as well when a hint regarding the core meaning of the objects (the function of a single familiarization object) is provided.
Booth
Amy E
AE
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-2710, USA. a-booth@northwestern.edu
Waxman
Sandra
S
D001245:Association Learning; D003463:Cues; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011578:Psycholinguistics; D014706:Verbal Learning