Article Version of Record

Language influences on numerical development - Inversion effects on multi-digit number processing.

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Klein, E.
Bahnmueller, J.
Mann, A.
Pixner, S.
Kaufmann, L.
Nuerk, H.-C. Moeller, K.

Other kind(s) of contributor

Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien

Abstract / Description

In early numerical development, children have to become familiar with the Arabic number system and its place-value structure. The present review summarizes and discusses evidence for language influences on the acquisition of the highly transparent structuring principles of digital-Arabic digits by means of its moderation through the transparency of the respective language’s number word system. In particular, the so-called inversion property (i.e., 24 named as ‘four and twenty’ instead of ‘twenty four’) was found to influence number processing in children not only in verbal but also in non-verbal numerical tasks. Additionally, there is first evidence suggesting that inversion-related difficulties may influence numerical processing longitudinally. Generally, language-specific influences in children’s numerical development are most pronounced for multi-digit numbers. Yet, there is currently only one study on three-digit number processing for German-speaking children. A direct comparison of additional new data from Italian-speaking children further corroborates the Whorfian claim that language impacts on all types of cognitive (number) processing as inversion-related interference was found most pronounced for German-speaking children. In sum, we conclude that numerical development may not be language-specific but seems to be moderated by language.

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2013

Journal title

Frontiers in Developmental Psychology

Volume

4:480

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00480

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Klein, E.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Bahnmueller, J.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Mann, A.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Pixner, S.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Kaufmann, L.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Nuerk, H.-C. Moeller, K.
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2017-08-28T11:11:12Z
  • Made available on
    2017-08-28T11:11:12Z
  • Date of first publication
    2013
  • Abstract / Description
    In early numerical development, children have to become familiar with the Arabic number system and its place-value structure. The present review summarizes and discusses evidence for language influences on the acquisition of the highly transparent structuring principles of digital-Arabic digits by means of its moderation through the transparency of the respective language’s number word system. In particular, the so-called inversion property (i.e., 24 named as ‘four and twenty’ instead of ‘twenty four’) was found to influence number processing in children not only in verbal but also in non-verbal numerical tasks. Additionally, there is first evidence suggesting that inversion-related difficulties may influence numerical processing longitudinally. Generally, language-specific influences in children’s numerical development are most pronounced for multi-digit numbers. Yet, there is currently only one study on three-digit number processing for German-speaking children. A direct comparison of additional new data from Italian-speaking children further corroborates the Whorfian claim that language impacts on all types of cognitive (number) processing as inversion-related interference was found most pronounced for German-speaking children. In sum, we conclude that numerical development may not be language-specific but seems to be moderated by language.
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/497
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.705
  • Is version of
    10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00480
  • Title
    Language influences on numerical development - Inversion effects on multi-digit number processing.
  • DRO type
    article
  • Leibniz institute name(s) / abbreviation(s)
    IWM
  • Leibniz subject classification
    Psychologie
  • Journal title
    Frontiers in Developmental Psychology
  • Volume
    4:480
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record