When meaning is not enough: Distributional and semantic cues to word categorization in child directed speech

One of the most important tasks in first language development is assigning words to their grammatical category. The Semantic Bootstrapping Hypothesis postulates that, in order to accomplish this task, chil dren are guided by a neat correspondence between semantic and grammatical categories, since nouns typically refer to objects and verbs to actions. It is this correspondence that guides children's initial word categorization. Other approaches, on the other hand, suggest that children might make use of distributional cues and word contexts to accomplish the word categorization task. According to such approaches, the Semantic Bootstrapping assumption offers an important limitation, as it might not be true that all the nouns that children hear refer to specific objects or people. In order to explore that, we carried out two studies based on analyses of children's linguistic input. We analyzed child-directed speech addressed to four children under the age of 2;6, taken from the CHILDES database. The corpora were selected from the Manchester corpus. The corpora from the four selected children contained a total of 10,681 word types and 364,196 word tokens. In our first study, discriminant analyses were performed using semantic cues alone. The results show that many of the nouns found in parents' speech do not relate to specific objects and that semantic information alone might not be sufficient for successful word categorization. Given that there must be an additional source of information which, alongside with semantics, might assist young learners in word categorization, our second study explores the availability of both distributional and semantic cues in child-directed speech. Our results confirm that this combination might yield better results for word categorization. These results are in line with theories that suggest the need for an integration of multiple cues from different sources in language development

Let's Share Perspectives! Mentalistic Skills Involved in Cooperation

Previous research has found a link between theory of mind and cooperation. The aim of this study is to deepen into this relationship, to identify which theory of mind skills are more related to the cooperative ability on a referential communication task. A total of 50 children from first and fifth grade completed a battery of theory of mind tasks, and also a cooperative task where children worked in pairs to build block models. Each pair was composed by a builder and a guide, who gave instructions to his partner about how to build a replica of the model. The results show a significant relationship between the theory of mind skills and cooperation. Specifically, we found that the second-order false-belief task was the variable most related to cooperation after controlling the effect of age. In addition, we observed that the mentalist skills were more important for cooperation in the builders than in the guides. Finally, we discuss the findings of this study and make suggestions for the future

Language acquisition in a post-pandemic context: the impact of measures against COVID-19 on early language development

Language acquisition is influenced by the quality and quantity of input that language learners receive. In particular, early language development has been said to rely on the acoustic speech stream, as well as on language-related visual information, such as the cues provided by the mouth of interlocutors. Furthermore, children's expressive language skills are also influenced by the variability of interlocutors that provided the input. The COVID-19 pandemic has offered an unprecedented opportunity to explore the way these input factors affect language development. On the one hand, the pervasive use of masks diminishes the quality of speech, while it also reduces visual cues to language. On the other hand, lockdowns and restrictions regarding social gatherings have considerably limited the amount of interlocutor variability in children's input. The present study aims at analyzing the effects of the pandemic measures against COVID-19 on early language development. To this end, 41 children born in 2019 and 2020 were compared with 41 children born before 2012 using the Catalan adaptation of the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDIs). Results do not show significant differences in vocabulary between pre- and post-Covid children, although there is a tendency for children with lower vocabulary levels to be in the post-Covid group. Furthermore, a relationship was found between interlocutor variability and participants' vocabulary, indicating that those participants with fewer opportunities for socio-communicative diversity showed lower expressive vocabulary scores. These results reinforce other recent findings regarding input factors and their impact on early language learning

Let's Share Perspectives! Mentalistic Skills Involved in Cooperation

Previous research has found a link between theory of mind and cooperation. The aim of this study is to deepen into this relationship, to identify which theory of mind skills are more related to the cooperative ability on a referential communication task. A total of 50 children from first and fifth grade completed a battery of theory of mind tasks, and also a cooperative task where children worked in pairs to build block models. Each pair was composed by a builder and a guide, who gave instructions to his partner about how to build a replica of the model. The results show a significant relationship between the theory of mind skills and cooperation. Specifically, we found that the second-order false-belief task was the variable most related to cooperation after controlling the effect of age. In addition, we observed that the mentalist skills were more important for cooperation in the builders than in the guides. Finally, we discuss the findings of this study and make suggestions for the future

Language acquisition in a post-pandemic context: the impact of measures against COVID-19 on early language development

Language acquisition is influenced by the quality and quantity of input that language learners receive. In particular, early language development has been said to rely on the acoustic speech stream, as well as on language-related visual information, such as the cues provided by the mouth of interlocutors. Furthermore, children’s expressive language skills are also influenced by the variability of interlocutors that provided the input. The COVID-19 pandemic has offered an unprecedented opportunity to explore the way these input factors affect language development. On the one hand, the pervasive use of masks diminishes the quality of speech, while it also reduces visual cues to language. On the other hand, lockdowns and restrictions regarding social gatherings have considerably limited the amount of interlocutor variability in children’s input. The present study aims at analyzing the effects of the pandemic measures against COVID-19 on early language development. To this end, 41 children born in 2019 and 2020 were compared with 41 children born before 2012 using the Catalan adaptation of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDIs). Results do not show significant differences in vocabulary between pre- and post-Covid children, although there is a tendency for children with lower vocabulary levels to be in the post-Covid group. Furthermore, a relationship was found between interlocutor variability and participants’ vocabulary, indicating that those participants with fewer opportunities for socio-communicative diversity showed lower expressive vocabulary scores. These results reinforce other recent findings regarding input factors and their impact on early language learning

Adquisición del lenguaje y cognición

Aquest article se centra en les relacions entre el llenguatge i la cognició, principalment en la influència de l’adquisició del llenguatge en la cognició. S’assumeix que hi ha una relació estreta i bidireccional entre el desenvolupament lingüístic i el cognitiu. Aquest article pretén il·lustrar com l’adquisició d’un sistema lingüístic té repercussions a nivell cognitiu, no només en la primera infància. La discussió dels diversos estudis porta a comprendre la influència de l’adquisició del llenguatge a diversos nivells. Tant pel que fa al desenvolupament cognitiu inicial, com en relació amb la importància de l’adquisició del llenguatge per al desenvolupament de les habilitats metacognitives i de les funcions executives. Diferents aspectes de l’adquisició del llenguatge potencien el desenvolupament cognitiu de manera que difícilment podria succeir sense llenguatge.This paper focuses on the relationship between language and cognition, in particular the impact of language acquisition on cognition. It is assumed that there is a close and bidirectional relationship between the development of language and cognition. This paper aims to illustrate how the acquisition of a linguistic system has repercussions on the cognitive level, even beyond early childhood. From the analysis of several studies it is found that the influence of language acquisition occurs at different levels, from initial cognitive development to the development of metacognitive abilities and executive functions. Different aspects of language acquisition promote cognitive development in such a way that the latter could would be unlikely to occur without the former.Este artículo se centra en las relaciones entre el lenguaje y la cognición, principalmente en la influencia de la adquisición del lenguaje en la cognición. Se asume que hay una relación estrecha y bidireccional entre el desarrollo lingüístico y el cognitivo. Este artículo pretende ilustrar como la adquisición de un sistema lingüístico tiene repercusiones a nivel cognitivo, no solamente en la primera infancia. La discusión de los diversos estudios lleva a comprender la influencia de la adquisición del lenguaje a diversos niveles. Tanto a nivel del desarrollo cognitivo inicial, como en relación con la importancia de la adquisición del lenguaje para el desarrollo de las habilidades metacognitivas y de las funciones ejecutivas. Diferentes aspectos de la adquisición del lenguaje potencian el desarrollo cognitivo de una manera que difícilmente podría suceder sin lenguaje

Multidimensional research on university engagement using a mixed method approach

El compromiso o la implicación académica (engagement en inglés) delos estudiantes universitarios se ha convertido en un elemento fundamental desu bienestar y de su rendimiento académico y, además, está muy relacionadotambién con su futuro profesional y compromiso social. Es por esta razón quela definición de dicho concepto y la disposición de instrumentos de evaluacióny estrategias de análisis son imprescindibles para conocer las experiencias deaprendizaje que conducen a mejorar la implicación académica del estudiante.Para el desarrollo de esta investigación hemos utilizado una metodología mixtacuantitativa y cualitativa: análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, porun lado, y grupos de discusión mediante la técnica de los grupos nominales,por otro. Los objetivos que nos hemos planteado son tres: primero, ahondaren el modelo multidimensional del constructo engagement; segundo, validar uncuestionario que permita evaluar la percepción que tienen los estudiantes delas metodologías de aprendizaje que se utilizan en el aula, y tercero, comprobarla manejabilidad de los grupos nominales como método cualitativo de análisis.Los resultados demuestran que nuestra nueva propuesta ofrece un instrumentoestadísticamente válido para determinar las percepciones del propio engagementy un método cualitativo de utilización eficaz, eficiente y motivador para losestudiantes. Sin embargo, respecto a la multidimensionalidad del constructo, ycontrariamente al punto de vista teórico más aceptado que considera la existencia de tres dimensiones del engagement (comportamiento, cognición y emoción), nuestros resultados solamente revelan dos dimensiones (cognitivo-emocional y comportamental). En la discusión y comentarios damos posibles explicaciones a dicha contradicción.The commitment or academic implication (engagement) of universitystudents has become a fundamental element for their welfare and academicperformance and, furthermore, it is also related to their professional futureand social commitment. For this reason, the definition of the concept and theprovision of assessment strategies and tools are essential to know the learningexperiences that lead to enhancing the academic involvement of the students.To develop our research, we have used a mixed quantitative and qualitativemethodology: exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis on the one hand,and discussion groups using the nominal groups technique on the other hand.We have set three different objectives: first, to delve into the multidimensionalmodel of the construct; second, to validate a questionnaire that allows forevaluation of the students’ perception of the learning methodologies used inthe classroom; and third, to check the manageability of the nominal groupsas a qualitative method of analysis. The results demonstrate that our newproposal provides a statistically valid instrument aimed at determining theperceptions of own engagement and an effective, efficient and motivatingqualitative method for students. However, regarding the multidimensionalityof the construct, contrary to the more accepted theoretical point of view thatconsiders three dimensions of engagement (behaviour, cognition and emotion),our results only reveal two dimensions (cognitive-emotional and behavioural).In the discussion and comments section we give possible explanations for thiscontradiction

Habilitats sociocognitives i de funcionament executiu en nenes i nens amb síndrome de Down d'entre 4 i 12 anys

The study of socio-cognitive skills, and their relationship with executive functions, has generated a large number of studies. In order to assess these skills in children with Down syndrome, we administered a battery of theory of mind tasks, a test of emotion comprehension, and several executive function tasks, to a group of 30 children with Down syndrome aged between 4 and 12 years. Two groups of children with typical development were used as control groups, one for chronological age and the other for linguistic level. The results indicate that participants with Down syndrome have similar socio-cognitive abilities compared to their peers with the same language level and thus, that these skills improve with increasing age. In executive functions we observed differences between the diverse components evaluated, and we can conclude that executive functions are good predictors for socio-cognitive abilities in children with Down syndromeL’estudi de les habilitats sociocognitives, i la seva relació amb les funcions executives, ha generat un volum important d’estudis. Amb l’objectiu d’avaluar aquestes capacitats en infants amb síndrome de Down, hem administrat una bateria de tasques de teoria de la ment, un test de comprensió emocional, i diverses tasques de funcions executives, a 30 infants amb síndrome de Down d’entre 4 i 12 anys, així com també a dos grups d’infants amb un desenvolupament típic; un d’ells de la mateixa edat cronològica, i l’altre amb un nivell lingüístic similar. Les dades indiquen que els participants amb síndrome de Down tenen unes habilitats sociocognitives similars a les dels seus companys amb el mateix nivell lingüístic i que aquestes milloren amb l’increment de l’edat. En les funcions executives s’observen diferències en el domini dels seus components i es mostren com un bon predictor per al domini en les habilitats sociocognitives en nenes i nens amb síndrome de Dow

The Role of Executive Functions in Social Cognition among Children with Down Syndrome: Relationship Patterns

Many studies show a link between social cognition, a set of cognitive and emotional abilities applied to social situations, and executive functions in typical developing children. Children with Down syndrome (DS) show deficits both in social cognition and in some subcomponents of executive functions. However this link has barely been studied in this population. The aim of this study is to investigate the links between social cognition and executive functions among children with DS. We administered a battery of social cognition and executive function tasks (6 theory of mind tasks, a test of emotion comprehension, and 3 executive function tasks) to a group of 30 participants with DS between 4 and 12 years of age. The same tasks were administered to a chronological-age control group and to a control group with the same linguistic development level. Results showed that apart from deficits in social cognition and executive function abilities, children with DS displayed a slight improvement with increasing chronological age and language development in those abilities. Correlational analysis suggested that working memory was the only component that remained constant in the relation patterns of the three groups of participants, being the relation patterns similar among participants with DS and the language development control group. A multiple linear regression showed that working memory explained above 50 % of the variability of social cognition in DS participants and in language development control group, whereas in the chronological-age control group this component only explained 31 % of the variability. These findings, and specifically the link between working memory and social cognition, are discussed on the basis of their theoretical and practical implications for children with DS. We discuss the possibility to use a working memory training to improve social cognition in this population

When Meaning Is Not Enough: Distributional and Semantic Cues to Word Categorization in Child Directed Speech

One of the most important tasks in first language development is assigning words to their grammatical category. The Semantic Bootstrapping Hypothesis postulates that, in order to accomplish this task, children are guided by a neat correspondence between semantic and grammatical categories, since nouns typically refer to objects and verbs to actions. It is this correspondence that guides children’s initial word categorization. Other approaches, on the other hand, suggest that children might make use of distributional cues and word contexts to accomplish the word categorization task. According to such approaches, the Semantic Bootstrapping assumption offers an important limitation, as it might not be true that all the nouns that children hear refer to specific objects or people. In order to explore that, we carried out two studies based on analyses of children’s linguistic input. We analyzed child-directed speech addressed to four children under the age of 2;6, taken from the CHILDES database. The corpora were selected from the Manchester corpus. The corpora from the four selected children contained a total of 10,681 word types and 364,196 word tokens. In our first study, discriminant analyses were performed using semantic cues alone. The results show that many of the nouns found in parents’ speech do not relate to specific objects and that semantic information alone might not be sufficient for successful word categorization. Given that there must be an additional source of information which, alongside with semantics, might assist young learners in word categorization, our second study explores the availability of both distributional and semantic cues in child-directed speech. Our results confirm that this combination might yield better results for word categorization. These results are in line with theories that suggest the need for an integration of multiple cues from different sources in language development