Overextension in early language development

This research explored overextension in the early vocabularies of six children, followed in a language diary study from 1; 0 to 1; 8 and found that only one-third of the first 75 words acquired by each child were ever overextended.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research explored overextension in the early vocabularies of six children, followed in a language diary study from 1; 0 to 1; 8. Results indicated that only one-third of the first 75 words acquired by each child were ever overextended. A small set of high-frequency, early acquired words accounted for a disproportionate number of overextensions. Overextensions were classified into three types: categorical overinclusions, analogical overextensions and predicate statements. Four types of information served as the bases for word applications: perceptual, action-functional, affective and contextual. The use of words to denote associative complexes of a well-organized, systematic character was discussed as a characteristic form of early word usage.