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Where's the orange? Geometric and extra-geometric influences on English children's descriptions of spatial locations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2004

LYNN V. RICHARDS ,
KENNY R. COVENTRY  and
JOHN CLIBBENS
LYNN V. RICHARDS
Affiliation:
Centre for Thinking and Language, Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth
KENNY R. COVENTRY
Affiliation:
Centre for Thinking and Language, Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth
JOHN CLIBBENS
Affiliation:
Centre for Thinking and Language, Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth
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Abstract

The effect of both geometric and extra-geometric factors on children's production of in is reported (free-response paradigm). Eighty children across four age groups (means 4;1, 5;5, 6;1, and 7;1) were shown video scenes of puppets placing real objects in various positions with reference to a bowl and a plate. Located objects were placed at three heights on top of piles of other objects in the scene. The extra-geometric factor of location control of the located object was manipulated by comparing static scenes to dynamic scenes in which the located object was depicted as either moving independently of, or together with, the reference object. Additionally, the located object was placed on other objects that were either the same or different (e.g. an apple on apples or on oranges). The results indicate that even the youngest children altered the way they talked according to not only geometric but also extra-geometric factors.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , February 2004 , pp. 153 - 175
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

We are indebted to all the children of St Nicholas & St Faith Nursery School and Burraton Primary School Saltash, Cornwall, England for their enthusiasm when participating in the experiments reported here, and to the teachers who went out of their way to help. We would also like to thank Sherria Hoskins for her technical help in producing the video scenes.