Language and socialization. Culturally informed developmental pathways [Sozialisation durch Sprache zur Sprache: Kulturspezifische Entwicklungspfade]

Abstract

Language represents a universe of cultural messages that are integral part of children's developmental niches. Language is the mean that reflects social reality and the norms and values of cultural models in particular contexts. Cultural models specify particularly the dimensions of autonomy and relatedness and their interplay with respect to everyday practices and routines. The discourse style that supports autonomy is expressed in a voluminous and embellished, elaborated register. The content comprises the mental being, preferences, wishes and evaluations. There is a distinct focus on the individual and the individual's world-view. The discourse style that comprises relatedness is skeletal and descriptive. The content comprises the social environment, norms and values. Infants experience these discourse styles from birth on and participate in their respective language environments. Thus they co-construct their own developmental pathways. Based on longitudinal cross-cultural research, it is argued that the early language environment during infancy has consequences for the narrative styles of children. Already with three years of age, children reflect their socialization environments.