The Development of Quantity Implicatures in Mandarin-Speaking Children

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  • Author(s): Zhao, Shuyan; Ren, Jie; Frank, Michael C. (ORCID Frank, Michael C. (ORCID 0000-0002-7551-4378); Zhou, Peng (ORCID Zhou, Peng (ORCID 0000-0002-0818-2545)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Language Learning and Development. 2021 17(4):343-365.
  • Publication Date:
    2021
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      23
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      National Science Foundation (NSF)
    • Contract Number:
      146077
    • Subject Terms:
      Mandarin Chinese; Case Studies; Pragmatics; Language Skills; Preschool Children; Child Development; Inferences; Contrastive Linguistics; Language Acquisition; Young Children; Foreign Countries; Form Classes (Languages); Difficulty Level; Task Analysis; Pictorial Stimuli
    • Subject Terms:
      China (Beijing)
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/15475441.2021.1886935
    • ISSN:
      1547-5441
    • Abstract:
      The present study reports a large, cross-sectional study of Mandarin-speaking children's ability to compute quantity implicatures. To chart the developmental trajectory of this pragmatic ability, we tested 225 Mandarin-speaking children aged 4-8 years on their interpretations of scalar and non-scalar implicatures, as well as numerals. Scalar implicatures were difficult and we did not observe consistent success until age 6. In contrast, by 4 years of age this group was already able to compute non-scalar implicatures and the exact readings of numerals at adult-like rates. The implications of the current findings are discussed in relation to children's development of pragmatic inference, highlighting the relevance of cross-linguistic data in understanding pragmatic development.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2021
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1306610