LMA Seminar, Dr Sudha Arunachalam

The bystander as learner: How children can (and can't) acquire language by overhearing

Language development research has typically focused on situations in which child-caregiver dyads interact one-on-one, but children are also exposed to language that is not directed to them. In lab tasks, children show robust abilities to learn new words when they are simply bystanders to a conversation. I will present studies exploring children's abilities to do this, asking whether the ability to learn from overhearing might be especially beneficial for the task of learning certain kinds of words, or for certain kinds of learners--in particular, children with autism spectrum disorder. 

Sudha Arunachalam is an Associate Professor of Communicative Sciences and Disorders. In her research program, she examines how infants, toddlers, and preschoolers acquire their native language, including children who are developing typically, children with autism spectrum disorder, and children with language delay. In collaborations with researchers all over the world, she also studies children who are acquiring languages other than English. 

For access to this seminar, please register here, a link will be sent to you within a few days of the talk.