24 April 2013
'Does it matter how we speak to our children' - Café Science event on 29th April
Professor Vera Kempe will explore whether the way adults speak to children influences their language development at the next Café Science event in Dundee.
Professor Kempe, Chair of Psychology and Language Learning at the University of Abertay Dundee, will deliver a talk, entitled 'Does it matter how we speak to our children?' at Chambers Coffee House and Restaurant on Monday, 29th April.
She said, "It's often the case that when we speak to babies and young children, we do so in a particular way. We use a high-pitched voice, and short, simple sentences filled with words like 'blankie' and 'doggy' - rather than 'blanket' and 'dog'.
"We usually do it to show affection or as a term of endearment. But there are questions around whether the use of this kind of language can have an impact on our children's development.
"So, on Monday night, I'll be looking at what characterises this kind of 'child-directed speech', who tends to use it, and whether it occurs across languages and cultures. But most importantly, I'll be addressing the issue of whether child-directed speech and, more generally, the way we speak to children, can affect children's language development."
The popular Café Science series recently celebrated its 5th birthday, with more than 4000 people having taken the opportunity to hear about the ground-breaking scientific research happening locally since 2008.
The popularity of these informal discussions led by leading researchers from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay, James Hutton Institute and across Scotland has helped to enhance public understanding of science, and topics ranging from sea-monsters to the search for E.T. have been covered.
'Does it matter how we speak to our children?' takes place at Chambers Coffee House and Restaurant at 7pm, Monday, 29th April. Entry is free and open to all, and while the event is not ticketed, people are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
If you would like to suggest a topic or are interested in speaking at Café Science please contact cafescience@dundee.ac.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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