How do children adapt their language to communicate?

Description:
When we speak, we adapt our language to our counterpart. For example, we speak differently to children than to adults – we use different words, speak at a higher pitch and pause more. In this study, we want to find out whether children do the same and how monolingual and bilingual children communicate with a person who does not speak the same language as them. Together with two different conversation partners, the participating children brew a magic potion and explain to an adult which ingredients belong in the potion. We record how the children communicate and thus obtain important information about their language development.

Methods:Behavioral
Duration: 60 minutes   
Number of appointments: 1     
Age window: 7 – 9.5 Jahre
Study management: Deborah Lamm, Noemi Carlini
Project management:  Joanna Rutkowska, Stephanie Wermelinger und Esmee Aalders
Location: Psychological Institute of the University of Zurich, Zurich-Oerlikon