The Effect of Language on Concept Acquisition in Bilingual Children

Abstract

The aim was to determine whether logical concepts acquired in one language could be transferred to another language. Subjects included 35 children bilingual in Polish and English, 31 children bilingual in German and English, and a control group of 34 Australian children, none of whom was able to conserve weight. After pretesting in one language, they were trained in the acquisition of the concept of weight using the other, then posttested in the previous language. One month later, delayed posttests were given in both languages. Results showed that the concept was acquired in either language, and there was some generalization to other concepts. Results gave some support to the Piagetian standpoint that a concept may be considered independently from the language by which it is acquired. Interference between languages was indicated in the German group in that the earlier they had learned English, the poorer was their final performance in both languages.

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