Generalization of the meanings of new words by 4–6 year old children on the basis of dynamic features

The study tested the hypothesis about possible generalizations of new words by 4–6 years old children not on the basis of the form (static condition), but on the basis of its change (dynamic condition). The research team developed tasks with theoretically neutral and theoretically-loaded material. We found that in theoretically neutral conditions there was a difference in preference of a dynamic basis for generalization between ages (a dynamic condition for generalization preferred only by the children of the senior group), while in theoretically-loaded material differences were not found – children of all age groups preferred a dynamic basis. These results are interpreted as contradictory to previous theories of the existence of only one basis, based on the lexical development strategy of the generalization of the meanings of new words.

 

 

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