Article Synthesis: “Some Beginnings of Word Comprehension in 6-Month-Olds”

A synthesis was conducted on the article entitled “Some Beginnings of Word Comprehension in 6-Month-Olds.” The authors, Tincoff and Jusczyk, developed a study to determine if “the process of learning to associate sounds and meanings may occur sooner for words referring to salient social figures in infants’ lives than for words referring to immobile objects” (Tincoff & Jusczyk, 1999, p. 172). The author’s performed this study due to the fact that most research on word comprehension in infants focuses on participants that range in age from nine to 13 months (Tincoff & Jusczyk, 1999). However, some studies have shown that word comprehension can develop in infants that are even younger.

To answer the research question, the author’s conducted two experiments. First, 24 six-month-old participants were selected for the study (Tincoff & Juscyk, 1999). Next, the researchers had parents sign informed consent documents since the infants were not able to understand the procedures of the study, and to meet professional competency standards. Then, the infants were shown prerecorded videotapes of their parents while an audio tape said the names mommy and daddy (Tincoff & Juscyk, 1999). In all, the results of this experiment concluded that infants can associate the correct term to their parents when looking at their picture and hearing the name mommy or daddy.

In addition, a second experiment was designed and carried out to determine if infants apply the terms mommy and daddy to all people in that gender. Again, 24 six-month-old participants were selected for the study, and parents signed the informed consent forms to allow their infants to participate in the study (Tincoff & Juscyk, 1999). In this study, the participants were shown pictures of their parents and of unfamiliar women and men, and they heard audio saying “mommy, mama, mom, or daddy, dad, and dad” (Tincoff & Juscyk, 1999, p. 173). Interestingly, this experiment found that infants do not apply the words mommy and daddy to all people in that specific gender.

The results from the Tincoff and Jusczyk study were significant. The researchers determined that “infants begin to link sound patterns with meanings at six months of age, which is considerably earlier than previously thought” (Tincoff & Juscyk, 1999, p. 174). The findings of this study are important to the field of child language development since most researchers did not conclude that infants could associate words with objects until the baby was around nine months in age. Therefore, the findings of this study have confirmed that an infant’s mind is capable of word comprehension at an earlier age and that their speech and language development is more advanced than what has been previously reported.

Also, the findings in this research study are important for parents and professionals who study linguistics for two reasons. First, the research can inspire parents to start teaching infants words at an early age since they are able to associate words with specific objects. For example, the word dog will represent a dog and it will not be applied to all animals with fluffy hair. Furthermore, the information in this study is beneficial for professionals since they may be able to identify potential language disorders at an earlier age. For instance, doctors and other professionals may begin assessing the child for language disorders such as apraxia at six months of age instead of the first recommended screening at nine months old. Nonetheless, earlier assessment for these disorders can allow professionals to begin treating the disorders with interventions sooner.

Overall, since the results of Tincoff and Jusczyk’s experiments are an important finding for the field of language development, it should be included in a volume of “Essential Readings.” The results of the study were significant at the time, and it led to opportunities for researchers to further investigate, confirm, and expand upon these findings. In all, the essence of the study can be presented in the following multiple-choice question:

1. At what age do infants begin to link sound patterns and meanings?

a. 11 months

b. 6 months

c. 9 months

d. 13 months

Reference

Tincoff, R., & Jusczyk, P.W. (1999). Some beginnings of word comprehension in 6-month-olds. American Psychological Society, 10(2), 172-175.