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Interpreting physical and mental metaphors: Is Theory of Mind associated with pragmatics in middle childhood?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2018

Serena LECCE Open the ORCID record for Serena LECCE [Opens in a new window] ,
Luca RONCHI Open the ORCID record for Luca RONCHI [Opens in a new window] ,
Paola DEL SETTE Open the ORCID record for Paola DEL SETTE [Opens in a new window] ,
Luca BISCHETTI Open the ORCID record for Luca BISCHETTI [Opens in a new window]  and
Valentina BAMBINI Open the ORCID record for Valentina BAMBINI [Opens in a new window]
Serena LECCE
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
Luca RONCHI
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
Paola DEL SETTE
Affiliation:
Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
Luca BISCHETTI
Affiliation:
Center for Neurocognition, Epistemology and theoretical Syntax (NEtS), University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Italy
Valentina BAMBINI*
Affiliation:
Center for Neurocognition, Epistemology and theoretical Syntax (NEtS), University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Valentina Bambini, Center for Neurocognition, Epistemology and theoretical Syntax (NEtS), School of Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Piazza della Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy; fax +39-0382375899; tel +39-0382375841; E-mail: valentina.bambini@iusspavia.it
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Abstract

We investigated the association between individual differences in metaphor understanding and Theory of Mind (ToM) in typically developing children. We distinguished between two types of metaphors and created a Physical and Mental Metaphors task, echoing a similar distinction for ToM. Nine-year-olds scored lower than older age-groups in ToM as well as in the interpretation of mental, but not physical, metaphors. Moreover, nine-year-olds (but not older children) who are better in ToM are also better in interpreting mental, but not physical, metaphors. This suggests that the link between metaphor and ToM is stronger when metaphorical interpretation involves mental aspects, and it is more evident in early rather than later childhood.

Keywords

pragmaticsexperimental pragmaticsfigurative language
Type
Brief Research Report
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 46 , Issue 2 , March 2019 , pp. 393 - 407
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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