
The Library
Children creating core properties of language : evidence from an emerging sign language in Nicaragua
Tools
Senghas, Ann, Kita, Sotaro and Özyürek, Asli (2004) Children creating core properties of language : evidence from an emerging sign language in Nicaragua. Science, Volume 305 (Number 5691). pp. 1779-1782. doi:10.1126/science.1100199 ISSN 0036-8075.
|
PDF
WRAP_Senghas_Ms.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (375Kb) | Preview |
|
|
PDF
Senghas_Fig1.pdf - Supplemental Material - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (431Kb) | Preview |
|
|
PDF
Senghas_SOM.pdf - Supplemental Material - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (54Kb) | Preview |
|
![]() |
Video (QuickTime)
1100199S1.mov - Supplemental Material Download (1973Kb) |
|
![]() |
Video (QuickTime)
1100199S2.mov - Supplemental Material Download (2592Kb) |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1100199
Abstract
A new sign language has been created by deaf Nicaraguans over the past 35 years, providing an opportunity to observe the inception of universal hallmarks of language. The present study shows that children initially creating the language began analyzing complex events into basic elements, and sequencing these elements into hierarchically structured expressions, following principles not observed in gestures accompanying speech in the surrounding language. Successive cohorts of learners extended this procedure, transforming Nicaraguan signing from its early gestural form into a linguistic system. We propose that this early segmentation and recombination reflect mechanisms with which children learn, and thereby perpetuate, language. Thus, children naturally possess learning abilities capable of giving language its fundamental structure.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics |
||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Nicaraguan Sign Language, Language acquisition | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Science | ||||
Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science | ||||
ISSN: | 0036-8075 | ||||
Official Date: | 17 September 2004 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Volume 305 | ||||
Number: | Number 5691 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 1779-1782 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1126/science.1100199 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 29 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 29 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research] (NWO), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (U.S.) (NIDCD), Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi [Turkish Academy of Sciences] (TAS) | ||||
Grant number: | 051.02.040 (NWO ), R01 DC00491 (NIDCD), R01 DC05407 (NIDCD), HAO/TUBA-GEBIP/2001-2-16 (TAS) |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
![]() |
View Item |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year