Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
12:49
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
Published on: July 13, 2019
18.2K
Number words, quantifiers, and principles of word learning
Jessica Sullivan1, David Barner1
1Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science
|August 25, 2015
Summary
Children learn number words and quantifiers using the same mechanisms as learning nouns and verbs. General learning principles, like the Whole Object Assumption, apply to quantity expressions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Children's acquisition of nouns and verbs is well-studied.
- Learning the meaning of quantity expressions (e.g., number words, quantifiers) is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the learning mechanisms children use for quantity expressions.
- To propose that general learning principles apply to quantity word acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of existing research on word learning.
- Argumentation based on established principles in child language acquisition.
Main Results:
- Children's acquisition of quantity expressions relies on mechanisms similar to those for content words.
- The Whole Object Assumption and Principle of Contrast are generalizable to quantity words.
Conclusions:
- General learning principles guide the acquisition of both content words and quantity expressions.
- This framework offers a unified view of early word learning in children.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Components of Language
939
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
939
01:22Language Development
1.1K
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
1.1K
01:27Language and Cognition
978
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
978
01:27Associative Learning
1.9K
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...
1.9K
01:22Purposive Learning
585
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a...
585
01:12Chunking
529
Chunking is a powerful cognitive technique that improves short-term memory retention by organizing information into smaller, more manageable units. The brain, limited by working memory capacity, can more easily process and store information when it is divided into "chunks" rather than presented as discrete, unrelated elements. Chunking is especially useful when dealing with large amounts of information, such as numerical sequences, words, or complex ideas.
The principle behind chunking...
The principle behind chunking...
529