Why Do Children Use Underextension in Language Development?
What is an example of underextension in language development?
Which of the following is an example of an underextension?
A) Blake calls his mom "mommy". He also calls his teacher, his aunt, and his older sister "mommy".
B) Claire identifies red apples as apples. She does not identify green or yellow apples as apples.
C) Sarah identifies her German Shepherd as a dog. She also identifies her neighbour's Chihuahua as a dog.
D) Devin has many dolls at home. He calls his Elmo doll "Elmo" and his Big Bird doll "Big Bird".
Answer:
An example of underextension is option B) Claire identifying only red apples as apples, excluding green and yellow apples.
Underextension is a common phenomenon in language development among children. It occurs when a child uses a specific word in a narrow sense, excluding other objects or situations that may also fall under the same category.
For example, Claire's behavior of identifying only red apples as apples and not recognizing green or yellow apples demonstrates underextension. This limited use of the word "apples" is a typical stage in language development where children have yet to fully grasp the full range of a word's meaning.
By expanding her understanding to include all colors of apples, Claire would exhibit a more comprehensive and accurate use of language. Understanding underextension can provide insights into the complexities of language acquisition and cognitive development in children.