Lecture 5: intentional Communication

Question 1

Intentional Communication

Answer 1

Communication with a clear topic and is directed toward real or conceptual objects/events, such as pointing, using words, or gestures (e.g., raising arms to be picked up - manual gestures).

Question 2

What is pre-intentional communication?

Answer 2

Expressive behaviors like crying, laughing, or babbling, without a clear topic.

Question 3

What milestone develops between 0–2 months?

Answer 3

Shared Alertness (reflexes)

Question 4

What milestone develops between 2–6 months?

Answer 4

Interpersonal Engagement: Mutual social interactions involving shared gazes and smiles (Primary Intersubjectivity).

Question 5

What milestone develops between 6–9 months?

Answer 5

Joint Object Involvement: Infants engage with objects and caregivers in shared play (Epoch of Games).

Question 6

What milestone develops between 9–10 months?

Answer 6

Comprehension of Pointing: Infants understand pointing for near objects (Secondary Intersubjectivity).

Question 7

What happens at 11–13 months?

Answer 7

Infants begin productive pointing with low levels of visual orienting toward the social agent.

Question 8

What communication milestone emerges at 12 months?

Answer 8

First Words: Verbal communication begins to accompany gestures.

Question 9

What milestone develops between 14–15 months?

Answer 9

Advanced Pointing: Productive pointing with visual checking of companions and comprehension of pointing to far objects.

Question 10

What is protoimperative pointing?

Answer 10

Pointing to request an object (e.g., food or toys).

Question 11

What reinforces protoimperative pointing?

Answer 11

Delivery of the requested item.

Question 12

What is protodeclarative pointing?

Answer 12

Pointing to share attention or elicit an emotional response (e.g., smiling).

Question 13

What reinforces protodeclarative pointing?

Answer 13

Joint attention or caregiver’s positive emotional response.

Question 14

What is the nativist theory of pointing?

Answer 14

Pointing is biologically based, species-specific, and an evolutionary precursor to linguistic reference (Butterworth, 2003).

Question 15

What is the antithesis hypothesis in pointing?

Answer 15

Index-finger pointing contrasts with the precision grip, while whole-hand pointing contrasts with the power grip (Butterworth, 2001).

Question 16

What is the cognitive/representational view of pointing?

Answer 16

Pointing involves understanding others as intentional agents with distinct attentional agendas (Tomasello, 1995).

Question 17

What is the learning perspective on pointing?

Answer 17

Caregivers’ positive reinforcement (e.g., smiling, “motherese”) motivates infants’ pointing behavior (Leavens et al., 2005).

Question 18

What study assessed joint attention in 12-month-olds?

Answer 18

Liszkowski et al. (2004) tested infants in four conditions to assess their understanding of joint attention.

Question 19

What conditions were tested in Liszkowski et al.’s study?

Answer 19

Joint Attention, Face, Event, and Ignore conditions.

Question 20

What did Liszkowski et al. (2004) find about joint attention?

Answer 20

Infants pointed more in the Joint Attention Condition, showing they understand shared attention.

Question 21

What do infants do when joint attention is not achieved?

Answer 21

Infants persist in pointing, hoping to elicit the desired response.

Question 22

Why does the nativist theory face criticism?

Answer 22

• Apes also point with index fingers.
• Pointing styles vary across cultures.
• Caregiver interaction influences the emergence of pointing.

Question 23

What is joint attention?

Answer 23

Coordinated focus between an infant, caregiver, and an object/event.

Question 24

Why is joint attention important?

Answer 24

It is crucial for developing language and social cognition.

Question 25

What did Adamson & Bakeman (1991) study?

Answer 25

The development of joint attention during infancy.

Question 26

What did Leavens et al. (2014) highlight about joint attention?

Answer 26

The role of emotional synchrony in joint attention between caregivers and infants.

Question 27

vocal communication development

Answer 27

Production
* Non-speech vocal communication (cries, laughter, squeals)
* Speech and speech-like vocalizations (babbling, first words)
Perception
* Phonemic discriminations