Symbolic Understanding of Pictures and Written Words Share a Common Source
Here we examine the hypothesis that symbolic understanding across domains is mediated by a fundamental ‘symbolizing’ ability in young children. We tested 30 children aged 2–4 years on symbolic tasks assessing iconic and non-iconic word-referent and picture-referent understanding and administered sta...
Authors: | ; ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2014
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In: |
Journal of cognition and culture
Year: 2014, Volume: 14, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 187-198 |
Further subjects: | B
Symbolic understanding
pictures
language
reference
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Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | Here we examine the hypothesis that symbolic understanding across domains is mediated by a fundamental ‘symbolizing’ ability in young children. We tested 30 children aged 2–4 years on symbolic tasks assessing iconic and non-iconic word-referent and picture-referent understanding and administered standardised tests of symbolic play and receptive language. Children showed understanding of the symbol-referent relation earlier for pictures than written words, and performance within domains was correlated and, importantly, predicted by a marker of general symbolic ability (e.g., pretend play). Performance on picture and written word tasks was also unrelated to language comprehension. Thus, symbolic abilities in specific domains are underpinned by a general symbolizing ability which arises early in development. |
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ISSN: | 1568-5373 |
Contains: | In: Journal of cognition and culture
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685373-12342120 |