How do words become words? What information in the environment are learners sensitive to, and what stages in the process do they utilise these different environmental cues? How is a dog’s bark (a sound with meaning) different from a word? The studying of lexicalisation — the process by which novel utterances become ‘word-like’ — provides some of the answers to these questions.
We have been using mouse tracking to investigate these processes. Our studies are now complete and are being written up for publication. Further information will be coming soon!