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Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing

Publication ,  Journal Article
Singh, L; Rajendra, SJ; Mazuka, R
Published in: Child Development Perspectives
December 1, 2022

Over the past 50 years, scientists have made amazing discoveries about the origins of human language acquisition. Central to this field of study is the process by which infants' perceptual sensitivities gradually align with native language structure, known as perceptual narrowing. Perceptual narrowing offers a theoretical account of how infants draw on environmental experience to induce underlying linguistic structure, providing an important pathway to word learning. Researchers have advanced perceptual narrowing theory as a universal developmental theory that applies broadly across language learners. In this article, we examine diversity and representation of empirical evidence for perceptual narrowing of speech in infancy. As demonstrated, cumulative evidence draws from limited types of learners, languages, and locations, so current accounts of perceptual narrowing must be viewed in terms of sampling patterns. We suggest actions to diversify and broaden empirical investigations of perceptual narrowing to address core issues of validity, replicability, and generalizability.

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Published In

Child Development Perspectives

DOI

EISSN

1750-8606

ISSN

1750-8592

Publication Date

December 1, 2022

Volume

16

Issue

4

Start / End Page

191 / 199

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Singh, L., Rajendra, S. J., & Mazuka, R. (2022). Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing. Child Development Perspectives, 16(4), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12468
Singh, L., S. J. Rajendra, and R. Mazuka. “Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing.” Child Development Perspectives 16, no. 4 (December 1, 2022): 191–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12468.
Singh L, Rajendra SJ, Mazuka R. Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing. Child Development Perspectives. 2022 Dec 1;16(4):191–9.
Singh, L., et al. “Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing.” Child Development Perspectives, vol. 16, no. 4, Dec. 2022, pp. 191–99. Scopus, doi:10.1111/cdep.12468.
Singh L, Rajendra SJ, Mazuka R. Diversity and representation in studies of infant perceptual narrowing. Child Development Perspectives. 2022 Dec 1;16(4):191–199.
Journal cover image

Published In

Child Development Perspectives

DOI

EISSN

1750-8606

ISSN

1750-8592

Publication Date

December 1, 2022

Volume

16

Issue

4

Start / End Page

191 / 199

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology