The Development of Shape-Bias and Its Relationship With Lexical Production in Spanish-Speaking Children / El desarrollo del sesgo hacia la forma y su relación con la producción léxica en infantes hispanohablantes

Abstract

This study analyses the development of shape-bias, a cognitive mechanism that favours the categorisation and learning of new words, in Spanish-speaking children. The framework of reference used was the Attentional Learning Account model, which suggests that this bias develops gradually with experience and increased vocabulary. Ninety Mexican children ages 12, 18 and 24 months old participated by performing a word-generalisation task using the Intermodal Preferential Looking Paradigm. The results showed that the 24-month-olds paid more attention to images that are similar in shape than 12- and 18-month-olds. Furthermore, a correlation was found between attention to shape and lexical production through the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). These results suggest that shape-bias is present in the Spanish language at the age of 24 months and is related to vocabulary development, supporting the idea that experience with statistical regularities in the environment influences this process.