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Young children pronounce object words more accurately than action words

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Stephen Camarata  and
Laurence B. Leonard
Stephen Camarata*
Affiliation:
Pennsylvania State University
Laurence B. Leonard
Affiliation:
Purdue University
*
* Stephen Camarata, Department of Communication Disorders, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Abstract

Young children's productions of novel words serving as names of objects and actions were compared. Although the object and action names were matched according to consonant and syllable structure, accurate production of newly emerging consonants was greater for the object words for each of the measures used: spontaneous production and unsolicited imitation during the word exposure sessions, and responses to production probes administered during and following the exposure sessions. These findings are attributed to the fact that action words have greater semantic complexity than object words, and that the increased processing requirements involved in referring to actions reduce the capacity to use newly developing sounds in these words.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 51 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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