Suppose that a 4-year-old boy has just visited the zoo. He is describing what he saw, first to an adult, and then to his 2-year-old sister. You would expect to find that

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Children naturally adjust their language complexity based on their audience's perceived ability to understand. A 4-year-old is likely to simplify his language when talking to a younger sibling and use more complex language with an adult, demonstrating an intuitive understanding of the principle of communicative competence.

Suppose That a 4-Year-Old Boy Has Just Visited the Zoo