Publications [#351770] of Michael Tomasello

Book Sections/Chapters

1. Akhtar, N; Tomasello, M, The Social Nature of Words and Word Learning, in Becoming a Word Learner: A Debate on Lexical Acquisition (April, 2010), ISBN 9780195130324 [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/16)

   Abstract:
   This chapter describes research findings from the social-pragmatic approach. It discusses that Nameera Akhtar and Michael Tomasello's dramatic findings demonstrate how word learning occurs in some fairly complex, nonostensive situations amid the flow of social interaction. It states that current models of word learning, as suggested by Akhtar and Tomasello, undervalue the role of social interaction. It explains that because language has social goals as its ultimate purpose, social interactions are the outcome of word learning.