Two-year-old Maya has a vocabulary that includes the word car.How would she demonstrate the concept of underextension?
A)Use the term when she encounters any moving vehicle
B)Begin to use other words in its place, such as van
C)Use the word only when referring to her parent's station wagon and not to other cars
D)Begin to string the word together with other words

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Underextension refers to the tendency of a child to apply a word too narrowly, excluding other objects or situations that are related. In this case, since Maya only uses the word car to refer to her parent's station wagon and not other cars, she is demonstrating underextension. Choice A does not fit the definition of underextension since Maya would be using the term too broadly. Choice B does not fit either since it suggests Maya is expanding her vocabulary, rather than narrowing it. Choice D refers to the development of language skills but not specifically underextension.

Two-Year-Old Maya Has a Vocabulary That Includes the Word Car