The act of using a word, on the basis of some shared feature, to apply to a broader range of objects is called
A) overextension.
B) overregularization.
C) telegraphic speech.
D) underextension.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Overextension refers to when a child uses a word to refer to a larger range of objects than is appropriate, based on some shared feature. For example, a child might use the word "dog" to refer to all four-legged animals, rather than just dogs specifically. Overregularization refers to when a child applies a grammatical rule too broadly, such as saying "goed" instead of "went." Telegraphic speech refers to when a child only uses the essential words in a sentence, such as saying "me want cookie" instead of "I want a cookie." Underextension refers to when a child uses a word to refer to a smaller range of objects than is appropriate, such as only using the word "dog" to refer to their own pet dog, and not realizing it applies to other dogs as well.

The Act of Using a Word, on the Basis of Some