Flexible use of mutual exclusivity in word learning

Kalashnikova, Marina and Mattock, Karen Janette and Monaghan, Padraic John (2016) Flexible use of mutual exclusivity in word learning. Language Learning and Development, 12 (1). pp. 79-91. ISSN 1547-5441

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Abstract

From an early age, children apply the mutual exclusivity (ME) assumption, demonstrating preference for one-to-one mappings between words and their referents. However, for the acquisition of referentially overlapping terms, ME use must be suspended. We test whether contextual cues to intended meaning, in the form of presence of a speaker, may be critical for flexible ME application. Four- to five-year-old children were tested on two word learning tasks requiring flexible use of ME, respectively. In Experiment 1, children saw video recordings of the speakers introducing the novel labels. All children successfully applied ME and succeeded in accepting lexical overlap. In Experiment 2, with audio recordings of speakers only, children were unsuccessful at accepting lexical overlap. Thus, flexible use of ME relies on a developing ability to utilise the contextual information present in communicative interactions.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Language Learning and Development
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3310
Subjects:
?? linguistics and languageeducationlanguage and linguistics ??
ID Code:
81058
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
18 Aug 2016 10:30
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 16:17