Intentionality in Language and Communication, Emergence of

Abstract

The attribution of intentionality is the ability to view another's actions, behaviors, gestures, or speech as having a purpose. The emergence of intentionality in infants is thought to be a foundational feature of human communication and language. We will first discuss those issues, then trace children's developmental pathway from preverbal cognitive skills such as eye contact, joint attention, intention reading and sharing to attribution of mental states (Theory of Mind), and their link to language use. We will finally focus on the role of the input and of adult scaffolding in the development of those social-cognitive abilities.