Relationship between development of odor perception and language

In: Enfance, Volume 50, Issue 1, p. 125-140

Abstract

The paper integrates the data on children's experience of odor and their inclination and ability to describe them verbally. Experimental data and questions about the validity of the earlier sensory methodology are reviewed along with the debate about whether children's odor preferences are learned or innate. The odor preference data are then evaluated linguistically. Attention is called to the meaning expressed in the one-word stage and in first sentences, particularly expression of attribute in early language development. A review of this literature reveals no evidence that young children express odor preferences. There are two possible reasons. One is the semantic/syntactic complexity of the verbe "to smell" demonstrated in research on the use of perceptual verbs in more than 50 languages. The other is the generally established fact that children 's early language reflects prior and salient experiences.