Semantic Development

Question 1

What is overextension?

Answer 1

• a feature of a child’s language where the word used to label something is ‘stretched’ to include things that aren’t normally part of that word’s meaning

Question 2

What are the 3 types of overextension?

Answer 2

1) Categorical - the name for one member of a category is extended to all members of the category (e.g. apple used for all round fruits)
2) Analogical - a word for one object is extended to one in a different category; usually on the basis that it has some physical or functional connection (e.g. ball used for a round fruit)
3) Mismatch statements - one word sentences that appear quite abstract; child makes a statement about one object in relation to another (e.g. saying ‘duck’ when looking at an empty pond)

Question 3

What is underextension?

Answer 3

• a feature of a child’s language where the word used to label is ‘reduced’ to include only part of its normal meaning

Question 4

What is a hypernym?

Answer 4

• a subordinate

- i.e. a word that is more generic

Question 5

What is a hyponym?

Answer 5

• a more specific word within a category or under a hypernym

Question 6

What are the 3 stages of Aitchison’s child linguistic development?

Answer 6

1) Labelling - linking words to the objects to which they refer, understanding that things can be labelled
2) Packaging - exploring the labels and to what they can apply over/underextension occurs in order to eventually understand the range of a words meaning
3) Network-building - making connections between words, understanding similarities and opposites in meanings

Question 7

What are the 4 stages of Piaget’s child linguistic development?

Answer 7

1) Sensorimotor (up to 2 yrs)
2) Pre-operational (2-7 yrs)
3) Concrete operational (7-11 yrs)
4) Formal operational (11+ yrs)

Question 8

What are the key elements of the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 8

• the child experiences the physical world through the senses and begins classifying things in it
• lexical choices tend to be concrete rather than abstract
• objective permanence develops (i.e. the concept that objects exist when out of sight)

Question 9

What are key elements of the pre-operational stage?

Answer 9

• language and motor skills develop and become more competent
• language is egocentric (either focused on the child or used by the child when no one is around)

Question 10

What are the key elements of the concrete operational stage?

Answer 10

• children begin thinking logically about concrete events

Question 11

What are the key elements of the formal operational stage?

Answer 11

• abstract reasoning skills develop