It takes two to tango: Understanding and acquiring symmetrical verbs

Journal/Book: J Psycholinguist Res. 1998; 27: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013. Plenum Publ Corp. 385-411.

Abstract: Children's ability to understand symmetrical verbs was investigated, along with adults' use of linguistic and visual cues to learn novel symmetrical verbs. Symmetrical verbs encode a relationship r between two entities such that X r Y entails Y r X. In Experiment 1, sixteen children (mean age 4:8) acted out two types of sentences with symmetrical and asymmetrical verbs. Eight adult judges viewed videotapes of the children's performance and tried to guess what sentence type was being enacted Judges' performance was predicted (p < .05) by the verb type, symmetrical or asymmetrical. In Experiment 2, seventy-two adult subjects received visual and linguistic cues to the meanings of novel verbs. Both cue types affected subjects' judgements about whether the new verbs were symmetrical or asymmetrical (p < .05).

Note: Article Miller CA, Purdue Univ, Dept Audiol & Speech Sci, Heavilon Hall B-13, W Lafayette,IN 47907 USA

Keyword(s): INFANT PERCEPTION; CAUSAL EVENT; PERCEIVE

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