Walking, pointing, talking – the predictive value of early walking and pointing behavior for later language skills

Abstract

Both walking abilities and pointing gestures in infants are associated with later language skills. Within this longitudinal study we investigate the relationship between walk onset and first observed index-finger points and their respectively predictive value for later language skills. We assume that pointing as a motor as well as a communicative skill is a stronger predictor of later language development than walk onset. Direct observations, parent questionnaires, and standardized tests were administered in 45 children at ages 1;0, 2;0, 3;0, and 4;0. Results show that both walk onset and early index-finger pointing predict language abilities at age 2;0, but only early index-finger pointing predicts language skills at ages 3;0 and 4;0. Walk onset seems to contribute to an initial increase in language acquisition without a sustained advantage. The predictive value of first observed index-finger points, however, is strong and lasts at least until age 4;0.

Integrated Communication System: Gesture and Language Acquisition in Typically Developing Children and Children With LD and DLD

“…First, infants use so called whole-hand points, in which the arm and the hand are extended toward a referent, followed by index-finger points, in which the arm and the index finger are clearly extended toward a referent (Lock et al, 1990;Liszkowski and Tomasello, 2011;Lüke et al, 2017b). Based on the large number of studies it is undisputable that the production of pointing gestures is a strong predictor for later language skills (for a meta-analysis see Colonnesi et al, 2010 (for recent research see Murillo and Belinchón, 2012;Beuker et al, 2013;Kuhn et al, 2014;Lüke et al, 2017aLüke et al, , 2019Salo et al, 2018). Yet, there is some debate about the specific aspect of pointing gestures responsible for this predictive value.…”

“…The following features are analyzed and discussed: 1. Onset or ability to produce pointing gestures at a certain age (Lüke et al, 2017a(Lüke et al, , 2019McGillion et al, 2017); 2. Number of pointing gestures (Beuker et al, 2013;Kuhn et al, 2014;Lüke et al, 2017b); 3.…”

“…Combination with words (Desmarais et al, 2008;Fasolo and D'Odorico, 2012;Murillo and Belinchón, 2012;Cartmill et al, 2014;Igualada et al, 2015;Grimminger et al, 2016;Eriksson, 2018). While previously the intention of pointing gestures seemed to be essential for their predictive value (Colonnesi et al, 2010), more recent research indicates that the onset of pointing gestures, the hand shape, the combination of pointing gestures and words, and the number of different referents are better predictors for later language skills (Rowe and Goldin-Meadow, 2009;Lüke et al, 2017aLüke et al, , 2019Eriksson, 2018). Lüke et al (2017a) showed that at the age of 12 months the hand shape and not the intention of pointing gestures is responsible for the predictive value.…”

“…The strong predictive value of pointing gestures has mostly been analyzed within the first 3 years of life. A few studies show that early pointing gestures are predictive for language skills until the age of 4;0-4;6 (years; months) (Cartmill et al, 2014;Lüke et al, 2019). Beyond that age, no studies can be found (cf.…”

“…With the current study, we therefore investigate (1) whether the predictive value of index-finger pointing at 1;0 persists to language skills beyond the age of 4;0 (cf. Lüke et al, 2019) and, if so, whether children's language skills during the intervening time period mediate this relation. We expect that the predictive value of index-finger pointing at 1;0 persists until the age of 6;0 years and that this relation is mediated by the language skills between 3;0 and 4;0 years of age.…”