Homework Help Forum: Developmental Language

Posted by Skylar on Monday, September 3, 2007 at 2:13pm.

Can someone please help with this question-- I am very confused!! Davis went to the park with his dad and their dog,Sport. Davis saw lots of other dogs,pointed at them, and said,"Sport." Was Davis showing overextension or underextension? I posted this question yesterday- and was told its an example of overextension. I am very confused because my textbook states: "Younger preschoolers commonly call all four-footed furry animals "dog,"and all large animals "horse." This reflects overextension,in which the child has overextended and made a logical conclusion because these animals have many of the same features,can be about the same size,and therefore fit the exsisting word." "Underextension refers to the child's tendency to call all male adults"daddy" or all dogs by the family dog's name, even though the child can clearly recognize the difference between his dad and all other males and his dog and other dogs." So,in my question,according to my textbook,wouldn't it be an example of underextension? Please help,I am confused!

• Developmental Language - Ms. Sue, Monday, September 3, 2007 at 2:20pm

  Yes. It's an example of underextension.

  
  

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