Single Idea 15699

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 5. Concepts and Language / c. Concepts without language]

Full Idea

Language does not appear to be necessary for forming categories, since prelinguistic infants acquire many categories, and even use categories to form inferences about unknown properties.

Gist of Idea

Prelinguistic infants acquire and use many categories

Source

Susan A. Gelman (The Essential Child [2003], 08 'Intro')

Book Reference

Gelman,Susan A.: 'The Essential Child' [OUP 2005], p.179


A Reaction

She cites lots of research in support of this claim. The idea may come as a surprise to some people, but not to me. I take it that categorisation is what a brain is for, including animal brains.