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Inferences and semantic development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Paul Harris
Paul Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Lancaster
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Abstract

Three experiments with children between 5 and 7 years are described. It is shown that nominal predication of an unknown word by a superordinate term enables young children to make appropriate inferences concerning its attributes. The provision of distinguishing attributes also permits the child to differentiate the unfamiliar word from hyponyms of the superordinate. The results are discussed in relation to semantic development and reasoning in the young child.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , April 1975 , pp. 143 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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