Children's Faithfulness in Imitating Language Use Varies Cross-Culturally, Contingent on Prior Experience

Klinger, Jorn, Mayor, Julien and Bannard, Colin ORCID: 0000-0001-5579-5830 (2016) Children's Faithfulness in Imitating Language Use Varies Cross-Culturally, Contingent on Prior Experience. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 87 (3). pp. 820-833.

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Abstract

Despite its recognized importance for cultural transmission, little is known about the role imitation plays in language learning. Three experiments examine how rates of imitation vary as a function of qualitative differences in the way language is used in a small indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico and three Western comparison groups. Data from one hundred thirty-eight 3- to 10-year-olds suggests that children selectively imitate when they understand the function of a given linguistic element because their culture makes frequent use of that function. When function is opaque, however, children imitate faithfully. This has implications for how children manage the imitation-innovation trade-off, and offers insight into why children imitate in language learning across development.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Child Behavior, Imitative Behavior, Language Development, Comprehension, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Child, Child, Preschool, Mexico, Texas, Switzerland
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2016 13:35
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2023 19:50
DOI:	10.1111/cdev.12503
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3001732