Emerging Sensitivity to the Timing and Structure of Protoconversation in Early Infancy.

Videotaped 2-, 4-, and 6-month olds during interaction with a female adult stranger engaging in organized or disorganized peekaboo games. Found that from a diffuse sensitivity to the presence of a social partner, infants by 4 months develop a new sensitivity to the narrative envelope of protoconversation, in particular the timing and structure of social exchanges scaffolded by adults. (Author/KB)