Road to language learning is iconic
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 15:01
in Psychology & Sociology
Languages are highly complex systems and yet most children seem to acquire language easily, even in the absence of formal instruction. For spoken and written language, the arbitrary relationship between how a word sounds or looks and its meaning presents a real challenge for language learners. New research on young children's use of British Sign Language sheds light on one of the mechanisms – iconicity – that may help children connect a word's form to its meaning.