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Using metaphors as modifiers: children's production of metaphoric compounds
1Department of Psychology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA.
Journal of Child Language
|March 31, 1998
Summary
Preschoolers can create metaphors in compound words, challenging previous assumptions about their language abilities. This study reveals an early capacity for metaphoric language development in young children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Previous research on children's metaphoric language production is inconclusive due to methodological limitations.
- The ability of preschoolers to actively produce metaphors remains an open question in developmental linguistics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate preschool children's capacity to produce metaphors within compound nouns.
- To examine the developmental trajectory of metaphoric language production in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Two studies utilized elicited production tasks with 59 children aged 2:8-4:3 and 63 children aged 4:4-6:1, plus 34 adults.
- Participants corrected incorrect compound labels for pictures with metaphoric or non-metaphoric resemblances, and distinguished between literal and metaphoric labels.
Main Results:
- Children as young as 3 years old successfully produced appropriate metaphors in compound nouns when primed.
- Evidence suggests children can distinguish between literal and metaphoric labels.
- Significant developmental changes in metaphoric language use occur between ages 3 and 5, and beyond.
Conclusions:
- Preschool children demonstrate an early ability to produce metaphoric language, particularly within compound structures.
- Metaphoric language in preschoolers extends beyond simple word substitutions.
- Developmental changes in metaphoric competence continue through early and middle childhood.