Semantic Development

Question 1

Whole object assumption

Answer 1

when a child is confronted with a new word, they assume it represents the whole object

Question 2

Type assumption

Answer 2

the child assumes the word applies to all occurrences of that object, preventing semantic under-extension

Question 3

Jean Aitchison connects lexical and semantic learning:

Answer 3

In 1987, she identified three stages that occur during a child’s acquisition of vocabulary: labeling, packaging and network building.
Labelling, packaging, network-building, categorical, analogical, mismatch statements

Question 4

Labelling

Answer 4

understanding that objects in space have an intangible lexical label. nvolves making the link between the sounds of particular words and the objects to which they refer e.g. understanding that “mummy” refers to the child’s mother.

Question 5

Packaging

Answer 5

This entails understanding a word’s range of meaning.
. exploring the flexibility of each label; possible experimentation with over-
and under-extension. Some linguists use the ‘stretchy-net’ analogy to describe this

Question 6

Network-building

Answer 6

understanding and making connections between different words,
e.g. through synonyms and antonyms. This involves grasping the connections between words; understanding that some words are opposite in meaning