3. Numerical Cognition
Definition: The ability to think about numbers
Examples: Counting, comparing number magnitudes, subitizing
Numerical cognition refers to the ability to think about numbers. It
involves mental processes such as counting, comparing number
magnitudes, and subitizing. Counting is assigning numbers to
objects in a sequence. Comparing number magnitudes involves
assessing relative sizes of numbers. Subitizing is the rapid
recognition of small quantities without counting. These examples
highlight different aspects of numerical cognition.
4. Linguistic relativity
Hypothesis: The language we speak influences the way we think
Example: The Pirahã language has no words for numbers
greater than two.
Linguistic relativity is the idea that our language
influences how we think. It proposes that the
structure and vocabulary of a language shape our
cognitive processes and perception of the world. An
example is the Pirahã language, which lacks words
for numbers greater than two, potentially affecting
the numerical cognition of its speakers.
5. Participants: Monolingual speakers of two Australian languages
with very restricted number vocabularies: Warlpiri and
Anindilyakwa
Tasks: Subitizing, counting, comparing number magnitudes
The methodology employed in the study under discussion
focused on monolingual speakers of two Australian
languages, namely Warlpiri and Anindilyakwa, both of which
have limited number vocabularies. The participants were
assigned various tasks, including subitizing (the rapid
perception of small quantities without counting), counting,
and comparing number magnitudes.
Methodology
6. Data Collection and Results
Participants were tested
individually
Tasks were presented
using a computer
Data
Children performed as well
as English-speaking
children on all tasks
This suggests that the
ability to think about
numbers is not dependent
on the presence of a
counting vocabulary
Results
