What is 'on' and 'under' for 15-, 18- and 24-month- olds? Typicality effects in early comprehension of spatial prepositions

Meints, Kerstin, Plunkett, Kim, Harris, Paul L. and Dimmock, Debbie (2002) What is 'on' and 'under' for 15-, 18- and 24-month- olds? Typicality effects in early comprehension of spatial prepositions. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 20 (1). pp. 113-130. ISSN 0261-510X

Full content URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/026151002166352

Documents
uoa44km01.pdf
Digitised from version purchased copyright-paid from British Library

Request a copy
[img] PDF
uoa44km01.pdf - Whole Document
Restricted to Registered users only

408kB
Item Type:Article
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

Which spatial prepositions are the first to be comprehended by 15, 18 and 24-month-olds and how are they understood? To address these questions, early comprehension of prepositions was assessed using parental questionnaires and the preferential looking task. Children were shown stimuli depicting objects or animals either on or under a table in a typical (i.e. on or under the centre of the table) or atypical position (on or under the edge of the table). Existing research and parental assessments led to the prediction that children comprehend the prepositions 'on' and 'under' very early. It was also predicted that children's looking behaviour would show typicality effects. The results corroborate that 'on' and 'under' are among those spatial prepositions that are understood early and that children differentiate between typical and atypical 'on' and 'under' situations in their earliest comprehension of these prepositions. As with object words, at 15 months they associate spatial prepositions initially with typical situations. By 18 months they broaden the scope of the spatial prepositions to include atypical situations.

Additional Information:Which spatial prepositions are the first to be comprehended by 15, 18 and 24-month-olds and how are they understood? To address these questions, early comprehension of prepositions was assessed using parental questionnaires and the preferential looking task. Children were shown stimuli depicting objects or animals either on or under a table in a typical (i.e. on or under the centre of the table) or atypical position (on or under the edge of the table). Existing research and parental assessments led to the prediction that children comprehend the prepositions 'on' and 'under' very early. It was also predicted that children's looking behaviour would show typicality effects. The results corroborate that 'on' and 'under' are among those spatial prepositions that are understood early and that children differentiate between typical and atypical 'on' and 'under' situations in their earliest comprehension of these prepositions. As with object words, at 15 months they associate spatial prepositions initially with typical situations. By 18 months they broaden the scope of the spatial prepositions to include atypical situations.
Keywords:Language development
Subjects:C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology
C Biological Sciences > C820 Developmental Psychology
Divisions:College of Social Science > School of Psychology
ID Code:723
Deposited On:06 Jul 2007

Repository Staff Only: item control page