The Cognitive Science Society is hosting a 2003-2004 virtual colloquium
series presented live via the Internet, with the second talk given by =
Linda B. Smith. Register now to attend this free one hour seminar.

Time: 1:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 6, 2004

Presenter: Linda B. Smith, Indiana University

Topic: Symbolic Play, Early Word Learning, and the Perception of Shape

The main theme of this talk is developmental process - how it is =
literally created out of multiple causes that interact in weird loops
such that = the causes are consequences and the consequences are causes
and such that = causes (and consequences) are spread over many different
kinds of components. = The talk also connects two literatures that are
pretty much entirely = separate - theories of object recognition in the
adult literature and symbolic play = in children. The experiments
suggest a new agenda for research in one of = these (object recognition)
and a re-conceptualization of the other (symbolic play). The central
conclusion is this: Children's early learning of = object names creates
an abstract description of object shape that in turns = enables children
to extend actions to objects (sometimes in the form of symbolic
play) which in turn promotes the development of more abstract
representations of object shape which in turn promote the learning of =
object names. If one draws out these connections, one sees weird loops
of = causes as consequences and consequences as causes, the very stuff
of developmental change.

Further information about this talk, the colloquium series, a schedule =
of future talks, and an archive of previous talks are available at
http://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/colloquium

Contact Janet Morrow, [log in to unmask], with any questions about =
registration for this seminar.

Please forward this invitation to colleagues who would benefit from this
seminar or the series.

Sincerely,
Tom Ward, Executive Officer, Cognitive Science Society

Thomas B. Ward
Center for Creative Media
Box 870172
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0172
http://bama.ua.edu/~tward
email: [log in to unmask]