what is an example of a child using underextension ; (a young childs tendency to use general words to refer to a smaller set of objects, actions, or events than adults do – is in contrast with overextension) what would be an example that you may have witnessed or experienced of underextension of language development used by a child?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
An example of underextension in a young child’s language development would be a toddler using the word “dog” only to refer to their own family pet, but not recognizing that other dogs (such as those seen in the park or in books) are also dogs. For instance, if the family has a golden retriever named Max and the child uses the word “dog” only when referring to Max but not when seeing a poodle or a bulldog, this is an underextension. The child has learned the word but applies it too narrowly.
Underextension is a common phenomenon in early language development. It typically occurs when children are just beginning to understand and categorize the world around them. Children often base their understanding of a word on their immediate and familiar experiences. In the case of the dog example, the child has developed a mental category for “dog” based solely on their experience with Max. Because Max may have a specific size, shape, or color, the child does not yet realize that the word “dog” applies to a much broader group of animals with similar features.
This tendency reflects the way children’s cognitive and linguistic skills are still forming. They often rely heavily on direct associations and may not yet grasp more abstract or general categories. Underextension shows that the child is beginning to label the world, which is a positive step, even though the label is applied too narrowly. Over time, as they are exposed to more examples and corrected or guided by adults, children begin to generalize more appropriately. The process of moving from underextension to correct usage is a natural part of language learning. It highlights how children’s understanding evolves through experience, interaction, and cognitive development.
