It's frogs all the way down

Yonata Levy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper challenges the major theoretical motivation underlying a stage-model for language development (Gleitman, 1981), namely, that early grammars are exclusively of a semantic nature. Data concerning the development of gender systems in a variety of languages is presented. Particularly, the development of the use of referential pronouns and inflected verb forms and the role of the animate/inanimate distinction in the development of linguistic gender are seen to involve strictly formal nonsemantic generalizations from their first appearances in children's language, ages 2 years and on. Early two-word stage grammar cannot then be exclusively 'semantic'. Since it already involves semantic as well as non-semantic generalizations, the more highly developed grammars of later phases need not trigger any qualitative changes that will warrant a stage model for language development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75-93
Number of pages19
JournalCognition
Volume15
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1983

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