title: Word learning in dogs?
abstract: In a recent paper, Kaminski, Call and Fischer report pioneering research on word-learning in a dog. In this commentary we suggest ways of distinguishing referential word use from mere association. We question whether the dog is reasoning by exclusion and, if so, compare three explanations - learned heuristics, default assumptions, and pragmatic reasoning - as they apply to children and might apply to dogs. Kaminski et al.'s work clearly raises important questions about the origins and basis of word learning and social cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Bldg 420, Stanford, CA 94305-2130, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Markman
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abelev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D004285:Dogs; D007858:Learning; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014825:Vocabulary