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Volume 23, Issue 3
  • ISSN 1568-1475
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9773
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Abstract

Abstract

Relational developmental systems (RDS) approaches to communicative development trace the origins of (social) pointing back to early instances of non-social index finger use. So far, no empirical longitudinal examination of this proposal exists. This paper reports on a longitudinal analysis of non-social index finger use and pointing from 6 to 16 months ( = 114) based on a parent questionnaire. We investigated early motor abilities, cognitive abilities, caregiver sensitivity and non-intrusiveness as potential predictors of pointing. Non-social index finger use and pointing increased from 6 to 16 months. Non-social index finger use was longitudinally related to pointing. Pointing was more likely to be reported with increasing age, and when non-social index finger use was present. Early cognitive, but not motor abilities moderated this relationship. Sensitivity and non-intrusiveness were not related to pointing. This longitudinal study provides empirical support for the theoretical proposal that pointing emerges from non-social index finger use.

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2025-10-28
2025-11-09

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Charting the development of pointing
Gesture 23, 259 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.25008.kar
/content/journals/10.1075/gest.25008.kar
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): cognitive abilities; early communicative development; motor abilities; pointing; relational developmental systems

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