Twelve to 24-month-olds can understand the meaning of morphological regularities in their language.

• DOI: 10.1037/dev0000845
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02T16:03:23Z
• Authors: Alissa Ferry; Marina Nespor; Jacques Mehler
• Keywords: Plural; PsycINFO

To learn a language infants must to link arbitrary sounds their meaning. While words are the clearest example of this link, they not only component language; morphological regularities (e.g., plural -s suffix in English) carry meaning as well. Comprehensive theories acquisition account for how build links between these other parts and Here, we investigated morphology learning Italian, with rich inflectional that marks both gender number on article final vowel nouns. We demonstrate can concepts much earlier than previously thought. Italian-learning 12-18- 24-month-olds were shown pairs images faces differed either (1 female vs. 2 females; 1 male males) or male; females males). On each trial directed look at one distinguishing cue. Overall, across all ages, looked labeled image, indicating had least some understanding morphology. succeeded comparisons, showed evidence feminine distinction. These results indicate early stages acquisition, able identify recurring morphemes map those mark language. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, rights reserved).