Learning to think, talk, and gesture about motion in language-specific ways
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Şeyda Özçalışkan
Abstract
Languages differ systematically in the way they express spatial motion, rendering it as a highly relevant domain to examine effects of language on nonverbal representation of events. In this chapter, we focus on Turkish and English, the two languages that differ strongly in their expression of motion events. Our review of existing work – spanning across adult and child native speakers of the two languages (as well as several others) – suggests early emergence of language-specific patterns in speech, and possibly in gesture. Our review also highlights some key areas of further research that could shed new light on the effect of language on nonverbal representation of motion, particularly at the early ages.
Abstract
Languages differ systematically in the way they express spatial motion, rendering it as a highly relevant domain to examine effects of language on nonverbal representation of events. In this chapter, we focus on Turkish and English, the two languages that differ strongly in their expression of motion events. Our review of existing work – spanning across adult and child native speakers of the two languages (as well as several others) – suggests early emergence of language-specific patterns in speech, and possibly in gesture. Our review also highlights some key areas of further research that could shed new light on the effect of language on nonverbal representation of motion, particularly at the early ages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Acquisition/processing of morphology, syntax and semantics
- Sensitivity of Turkish infants to vowel harmony 29
- Turkish children’s early vocabulary 57
- Acquisition of canonical and non-canonical word orders in L1 Turkish 79
- What does online parsing in Turkish-speaking children reveal about grammar? 99
- Acquisition of scope relations by Turkish-English bilingual children 119
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Part II. Discourse
- Children’s referential choices in Turkish 153
- Learning to think, talk, and gesture about motion in language-specific ways 177
- Scene-setting and referent introduction in sign and spoken languages 193
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Part III. Literacy development
- Integrating cognitive and sociocultural aspects of reading in Turkish 223
- Phonological awareness in reading acquisition 243
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Part IV. Typical vs. Atypical development in monolingual and bilingual Turkish-speaking children
- Vocabulary and grammar acquisition in Turkish as assessed by the Turkish communicative development inventory 275
- Language impairment in Turkish-speaking children 295
- Language development in Turkish-speaking children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 325
- Verbal functional categories in the speech of a Turkish speaking child with autism 341
- L2 children do not fluctuate 361
- Second language exposure in the preschool 389
- Index 413
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Acquisition/processing of morphology, syntax and semantics
- Sensitivity of Turkish infants to vowel harmony 29
- Turkish children’s early vocabulary 57
- Acquisition of canonical and non-canonical word orders in L1 Turkish 79
- What does online parsing in Turkish-speaking children reveal about grammar? 99
- Acquisition of scope relations by Turkish-English bilingual children 119
-
Part II. Discourse
- Children’s referential choices in Turkish 153
- Learning to think, talk, and gesture about motion in language-specific ways 177
- Scene-setting and referent introduction in sign and spoken languages 193
-
Part III. Literacy development
- Integrating cognitive and sociocultural aspects of reading in Turkish 223
- Phonological awareness in reading acquisition 243
-
Part IV. Typical vs. Atypical development in monolingual and bilingual Turkish-speaking children
- Vocabulary and grammar acquisition in Turkish as assessed by the Turkish communicative development inventory 275
- Language impairment in Turkish-speaking children 295
- Language development in Turkish-speaking children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 325
- Verbal functional categories in the speech of a Turkish speaking child with autism 341
- L2 children do not fluctuate 361
- Second language exposure in the preschool 389
- Index 413
