Learning words through overhearing.

N Akhtar; J Jipson; M A Callanan

doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00287

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PubMed · 11333075

Learning words through overhearing.

N Akhtar·J Jipson·M A Callanan

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Abstract

Recent research indicates that toddlers can monitor others' conversations, raising the possibility that they can acquire vocabulary in this way. Three studies examined 2-year-olds' (N = 88) ability to learn novel words when overhearing these words used by others. Children aged 2,6 were equally good at learning novel words-both object labels and action verbs-when they were overhearers as when they were directly addressed. For younger 2-year-olds (2,1), this was true for object labels, but the results were less clear for verbs. The findings demonstrate that 2-year-olds can acquire novel words from overheard speech, and highlight the active role played by toddlers in vocabulary acquisition.

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Age Factors Birth Order Child, Preschool Female Humans Infant Language Development Male Psychology, Child Transfer, Psychology Verbal Learning Vocabulary Clinical Trial Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial

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N Akhtar, J Jipson, M A Callanan. Learning words through overhearing.. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00287

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