Chapter 2
Word meanings and semantic domains in acquisition
As children accumulate words, they build up semantic domains. In doing this, they start to link the meanings of words, depending on how they are related to each other. They rely on conceptual representations of objects and events, and on how adults talk about objects and events. Adults typically provide information along with new-word offers: facts about class membership, parts and properties, motion, sound, and function provide a basis for semantic relations. Semantic domains built up early include many general domains as well as some domains of intense interest (e.g., dinosaurs or cars), also elaborated with parental support. As children learn more words, they structure each domain and link new terms to ones they already know.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
-
2.Acquiring word meanings
-
2.1The first step: Fast mapping
- 3.Conceptual and social sources of information
- 3.1Conceptual sources for word meanings
- 3.2Social sources for word meanings
- 3.2.1The cooperative principle
- 3.2.2Conventionality and contrast
-
4.Accumulating words
- 5.Setting up semantic domains
- 5.1Some semantic domains
- 5.1.1Placement in space
- 5.1.2Joining and separating
- 5.1.3Holding and carrying
-
5.1.4Motion, manner, and path
- 6.Structure within semantic domains
- 7.Elaborated domains and islands of expertise
- 8.Conclusion
-
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Additional resources
These references are the primary resource for research. Other general resources include the CHILDES Archive <http://childes.psy.cmu.edu/>, the bibliography ‘Acquisition of language’ in Oxford Bibliographies Online: Linguistics <http://www.oxfordbibliographiesonline.com/>, and the text and reference source: Clark, E. V. (2016). First language acquisition (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Clark, Eve V.
2020.
Conversational Repair and the Acquisition of Language.
Discourse Processes 57:5-6
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Davies, Catherine, Susan Ebbels, Hilary Nicoll, Kristen Syrett, Sarah White & Cecilia Zuniga‐Montanez
2023.
Supporting adjective learning by children with Developmental Language Disorder: Enhancing metalinguistic approaches.
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 58:2
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Saji, Noburo, Mutsumi Imai & Michiko Asano
2020.
Acquisition of the Meaning of the Word Orange Requires Understanding of the Meanings of Red, Pink, and Purple: Constructing a Lexicon as a Connected System.
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