Research Interests
Daniel Weiss is interested in the cognitive mechanisms underlying language acquisition. This work focuses on statistical learning mechanisms that have been implicated in the learning of phonetic categories, as well as word segmentation and rule-learning. Daniel uses a comparative approach in order to determine whether these abilities are unique to humans. His research compares the abilities of infant and adult humans with the abilities of non-human primates. In addition, Daniel is interested in animal communication, particularly vocal learning and recognition.
Recent Publications:
Weiss, D.J. & Newport E. (2006). Mechanisms underlying language acquisition: benefits from a comparative approach. Infancy 9 (2), 241-257.
Maye J., Weiss, D.J. & Aslin R.N. (in press). Statistical phonetic learning in infants: Facilitation and feature generalization. Developmental Science.
Rosenbaum, D.A., Cohen, R.G., Jax, S.A., Weiss, D.J. & van der Wel, R. (in press). The problem of serial order in behavior: Lashley's Legacy. Human Movement Science.
Weiss, D.J. & Gerfen, C. (in revision) Language segmentation in a bilingual environment. Language Learning and Development.
Weiss, D.J. & Maye, J. (in press). The role of contrast in the acquisition of phonetic systems. Contrast in Phonology: Theory, Perception, Acquisition. Mouton de Gruyter.
Weiss, D.J., Wark, J. & Rosenbaum, D.A. (in press). Monkey see, monkey
plan, monkey do: The end-state comfort effect in cotton-top tamarins (saguinus
oedipus). Psychological Science.
