Literaturnachweis - Detailanzeige
Autor/in | Ambridge, Ben |
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Titel | How Do Children Restrict Their Linguistic Generalizations? An (Un- )Grammaticality Judgment Study |
Quelle | In: Cognitive Science, 37 (2013) 3, S.508-543 (36 Seiten)
PDF als Volltext |
Sprache | englisch |
Dokumenttyp | gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz |
ISSN | 0364-0213 |
DOI | 10.1111/cogs.12018 |
Schlagwörter | Generalization; Comparative Analysis; Verbs; Grammar; Young Children; Semantics; Linguistic Theory; Morphology (Languages); Adults; Language Acquisition; Foreign Countries; Computational Linguistics; Predictor Variables; Accuracy; Evaluation Methods; Statistical Analysis; Age Differences; United Kingdom (England) |
Abstract | A paradox at the heart of language acquisition research is that, to achieve adult-like competence, children must acquire the ability to generalize verbs into non-attested structures, while avoiding utterances that are deemed ungrammatical by native speakers. For example, children must learn that, to denote the reversal of an action, "un-" can be added to many verbs, but not all (e.g., "roll/unroll"; "close/*unclose"). This study compared theoretical accounts of how this is done. Children aged 5-6 ("N" = 18), 9-10 ("N" = 18), and adults ("N" = 18) rated the acceptability of "un-" prefixed forms of 48 verbs (and, as a control, bare forms). Across verbs, a negative correlation was observed between the acceptability of ungrammatical "un-" prefixed forms (e.g., "*unclose") and the frequency of (a) the bare form and (b) alternative forms (e.g., "open"), supporting the "entrenchment" and "pre-emption" hypotheses, respectively. Independent ratings of the extent to which verbs instantiate the semantic properties characteristic of a hypothesized semantic cryptotype for "un-" prefixation were a significant positive predictor of acceptability, for all age groups. The relative importance of each factor differed for attested and unattested "un-" forms and also varied with age. The findings are interpreted in the context of a new hybrid account designed to incorporate the three factors of entrenchment, pre-emption, and verb semantics. (Contains 4 tables, 3 figures, and 13 notes.) (As Provided). |
Anmerkungen | Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/ |
Erfasst von | ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC |
Update | 2017/4/10 |