Language Promotes False-Belief Understanding: Evidence From Learners of a New Sign Language Export

@article{citeulike:5080202, abstract = {ABSTRACT2014Developmental studies have identified a strong correlation in the timing of language development and false-belief understanding. However, the nature of this relationship remains unresolved. Does language promote false-belief understanding, or does it merely facilitate development that could occur independently, albeit on a delayed timescale? We examined language development and false-belief understanding in deaf learners of an emerging sign language in Nicaragua. The use of mental-state vocabulary and performance on a low-verbal false-belief task were assessed, over 2 years, in adult and adolescent users of Nicaraguan Sign Language. Results show that those adults who acquired a nascent form of the language during childhood produce few mental-state signs and fail to exhibit false-belief understanding. Furthermore, those whose language developed over the period of the study correspondingly developed in false-belief understanding. Thus, language learning, over and above social experience, drives the development of a mature theory of mind.}, address = {Wellesley College and; Barnard College of Columbia University}, author = {Pyers, Jennie E. and Senghas, Ann}, citeulike-article-id = {5080202}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02377.x}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/122446679/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02377.x}, issn = {1467-9280}, journal = {Psychological Science}, keywords = {development, falsebelief, language, link, signlanguage, theoryofmind}, number = {7}, pages = {805--812}, posted-at = {2009-07-14 16:50:56}, priority = {2}, title = {Language Promotes False-Belief Understanding: Evidence From Learners of a New Sign Language}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02377.x}, volume = {20}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5080202 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5080202 N2 - ABSTRACT2014Developmental studies have identified a strong correlation in the timing of language development and false-belief understanding. However, the nature of this relationship remains unresolved. Does language promote false-belief understanding, or does it merely facilitate development that could occur independently, albeit on a delayed timescale? We examined language development and false-belief understanding in deaf learners of an emerging sign language in Nicaragua. The use of mental-state vocabulary and performance on a low-verbal false-belief task were assessed, over 2 years, in adult and adolescent users of Nicaraguan Sign Language. Results show that those adults who acquired a nascent form of the language during childhood produce few mental-state signs and fail to exhibit false-belief understanding. Furthermore, those whose language developed over the period of the study correspondingly developed in false-belief understanding. Thus, language learning, over and above social experience, drives the development of a mature theory of mind. IS - 7 JF - Psychological Science SN - 1467-9280 AD - Wellesley College and; Barnard College of Columbia University EP - 812 TI - Language Promotes False-Belief Understanding: Evidence From Learners of a New Sign Language VL - 20 SP - 805 KW - development KW - falsebelief KW - language KW - link KW - signlanguage KW - theoryofmind AU - Pyers, Jennie AU - Senghas, Ann PY - 2009/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02377.x ER -