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Error assimilation as a mechanism in language learning*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Carole Butler Platt  and
Brian MacWhinney
Carole Butler Platt
Affiliation:
University of Denver
Brian MacWhinney
Affiliation:
Carnegie-Mellon University
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Abstract

The present study tests the hypothesis that many of the grammatical errors that occur during the course of language development can serve as ‘auto-input’ leading directly to the acquisition of new expressive forms. A free-speech corpus of grammatically incorrect sentences was gathered from each of 4 four-year-old subjects. Three additional sets of sentences were constructed: sentences containing errors similar to those actually produced, sentences containing ‘baby errors’ and correct sentences. The children were asked to judge these sentences as correct or incorrect. Significantly fewer corrections were made in the sentences with subject-generated errors than in the sentences with similar errors or ‘baby errors’. These results can be explained by assuming that children learn their own errors.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 1983 , pp. 401 - 414
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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Footnotes

*

Address for correspondence: Carole Butler Platt, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208.

References

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