Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:32:51.721Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Imitations, interactions, and language acquisition*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Elizabeth Lotz Stine  and
John Neil Bohannon III
Elizabeth Lotz Stine
Affiliation:
Georgia Institute of Technology
John Neil Bohannon III
Affiliation:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The precise function of imitation in children's speech is still debated. Two hypotheses have been offered that focus on either the progressive nature of imitation to aid in the language acquisition process or the social, conversational role played by imitation in discourse. Support for these positions was sought in the imitations within the speech of a single child at ages 2; 8 and 3; 0. Evidence is presented for both roles of imitation in language acquisition. First, imitation aids in limiting the complexity (MLU) of the language environment. The effects of imitation in this role are compared and contrasted to the effects of the child's productions of what? Also, forms may appear in imitation prior to their appearance in spontaneous speech. A model is proposed in which imitation and what?-responses are overlapping phases of language acquisition which occur prior to spontaneous production of a given form.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , October 1983 , pp. 589 - 603
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bloom, L., Hood, P. & Lightbown, P. (1974). Imitation in language development: if, when, and why? CogPsychol 6. 380–420.Google Scholar
Bohannon, J. N. & Marquis, A. (1977). Children's control of adult's speech. ChDev 48. 1002–8.Google Scholar
Chomsky, N. (1959). Review of Verbal Behavior by B. F. Skinner. Lg 35. 26–58.Google Scholar
Clark, R. (1974). Performing without competence. JChLang 1. 1–10.Google Scholar
Clark, R. (1977). What's the use of imitation. JChLang 4. 341–58.Google Scholar
Foppa, K. (1978). Language acquisition: a human ethological problem? Social Science Information 17. 93–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garvey, C. (1977). The contingent query: a dependent act in conversation. In Lewis, M. & Rosenblum, L. A. (eds), Interaction, conversation, and the development of language. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Garvey, C. (1978). Contingent queries and their relations in discourse. In Keenan, E. O. (ed.), Studies in linguistic pragmatics. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hegde, M. N. (1980). Issues in the study and explanation of language behavior. JPsycholingRes 9. 1–22.Google Scholar
Mayer, J. & Valian, V. (1977). When do children imitate? When imitate? When necessary. Paper presented at the Boston University Conference on Language Acquisition,Boston October.Google Scholar
McTear, M. F. (1978). Repetition in child language: imitation or creation. In Campbell, R. &Smith, P. (eds), Recent advances in the psychology of language. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Moerk, E. (1977). Processes and products of imitation: additional evidence that imitation is progressive. JPsycholingRes 6. 187–202.Google Scholar
Searle, J. R. (1969). Speech acts: an essay in the philosophy of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shipley, E., Smith, C. & Gleitman, L. (1969). A study of the acquisition of language: free responses to commands. Lg 8. 322–42.Google Scholar
Snow, C. (1972). Mother's speech to children. ChDev 43. 549–69.Google Scholar
Snow, C. (1981). The uses of imitation. JChLang 8. 205–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Whitehurst, G. J. (1977). Imitation, response novelty, and language acquisition. In Etzel, B. C.LeBlanc, J. M. & Baer, D. M. (eds), New developments in behavioral research: theory, method and application. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Whitehurst, G. J. & Vasta, R. (1975). Is language acquired through imitation? JPsycholingRes 4. 37–59Google Scholar