Two-year-old Jenna is taught nonsense words for a noun (pling for a soft, cuddly puppet) and a verb (dass for a rocking motion). Jenna is likely to
A) easily combine the new noun with words she knows well.
B) confuse the new noun with the new verb.
C) produce novel word combinations with the new verb.
D) understand both new words, but is unlikely to use them in spontaneous speech.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The question implies that Jenna has been taught the meaning of the new words, which suggests that she will be able to understand and use them in some way. In particular, the fact that she has been given specific associations (a soft, cuddly puppet for pling, and a rocking motion for dass) suggests that she will be able to use these words meaningfully, especially if she hears them used in appropriate contexts. Given that she is only two years old, it is possible that she may initially struggle to produce either the new noun or verb correctly, but it is likely that she will eventually be able to combine them with other words she knows, especially if she hears them used together by adults or older children.

Two-Year-Old Jenna Is Taught Nonsense Words for a Noun (Pling