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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

Published on: January 29, 2020

Learning language from the input: why innate constraints can't explain noun compounding.

Michael Ramscar¹, Melody Dye

¹Department of Psychology, Stanford University, CA 94305, United States. ramscar@gmail.com

Cognitive Psychology

|December 15, 2010

Summary

This study found no significant differences in how children and adults process regular and irregular plural forms in noun-noun compounds. Language acquisition of plurals in compounds is likely learned from adult speech patterns, not innate constraints.

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Published on: April 19, 2017

Area of Science:

Psycholinguistics
Developmental Psychology
Morphological Processing

Background:

Previous research suggests innate constraints govern regular and irregular plural processing in compounds.
These constraints are thought to differ between children and adults and are unlikely to be learned.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically assess the evidence for innate constraints in plural form processing in noun-noun compounds.
To investigate potential differences in the acquisition, production, and interpretation of regular and irregular plurals in compounds.

Main Methods:

Conducted a series of seven experiments.
Analyzed production and interpretation patterns of plural forms in noun-noun compounds.
Controlled for frequency differences between regular and irregular plurals.

Main Results:

Found little support for substantively different factors governing regular and irregular plural acquisition, production, and interpretation.
No qualitative differences were observed in adults or children once frequency was accounted for.
Results suggest a learning-based account for plural compounding.

Conclusions:

The acquisition of regular and irregular plurals in compounds is consistent with learning from adult speech distribution patterns.
There is no compelling evidence for innate, formal constraints differentiating regular and irregular plural processing in compounds.
Frequency effects appear to be a key factor in understanding plural compounding patterns.