Abstract
Classifiers are like nouns in that they classify entities in the world into lexical categories. However, the lexical nature of the classifier system is very different from that of nouns. We discuss how Japanese and Chinese children learn the meanings of classifiers. We focus on two specific questions: How classifier acquisition is different from noun acquisition; and what the prerequisites are for spontaneously extracting the meanings of classifiers. It is shown that children are very conservative in assigning meaning to classifiers. The pace of learning largely depends on semantic complexity, across languages and within each language. Furthermore, we suspect that learning the meanings of classifiers requires a certain cognitive ability - an ability to synthesize pieces of partial knowledge and form them into a cohesive whole. It may be only when children have developed such an ability that they are able to extract the complex semantic rules of classifiers on their own. We conclude that children take very different routes in learning nouns and classifiers: Unlike noun acquisition, classifier acquisition is guided by a slow, bottom-up process.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 50-69 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Japanese Psychological Research |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |
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Keywords
- Bottom-up process
- Japanese and Chinese children
- Lexical acquisition
- Semantic complexity
- The prerequisites for extracting the meanings of classifiers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Heuristics in learning classifiers : The acquisition of the classifier system and its implications for the nature of lexical acquisition. / Uchida, Nobuko; Imai, Mutsumi.
In: Japanese Psychological Research, Vol. 41, No. 1, 1999, p. 50-69.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Heuristics in learning classifiers
T2 - The acquisition of the classifier system and its implications for the nature of lexical acquisition
AU - Uchida, Nobuko
AU - Imai, Mutsumi
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Classifiers are like nouns in that they classify entities in the world into lexical categories. However, the lexical nature of the classifier system is very different from that of nouns. We discuss how Japanese and Chinese children learn the meanings of classifiers. We focus on two specific questions: How classifier acquisition is different from noun acquisition; and what the prerequisites are for spontaneously extracting the meanings of classifiers. It is shown that children are very conservative in assigning meaning to classifiers. The pace of learning largely depends on semantic complexity, across languages and within each language. Furthermore, we suspect that learning the meanings of classifiers requires a certain cognitive ability - an ability to synthesize pieces of partial knowledge and form them into a cohesive whole. It may be only when children have developed such an ability that they are able to extract the complex semantic rules of classifiers on their own. We conclude that children take very different routes in learning nouns and classifiers: Unlike noun acquisition, classifier acquisition is guided by a slow, bottom-up process.
AB - Classifiers are like nouns in that they classify entities in the world into lexical categories. However, the lexical nature of the classifier system is very different from that of nouns. We discuss how Japanese and Chinese children learn the meanings of classifiers. We focus on two specific questions: How classifier acquisition is different from noun acquisition; and what the prerequisites are for spontaneously extracting the meanings of classifiers. It is shown that children are very conservative in assigning meaning to classifiers. The pace of learning largely depends on semantic complexity, across languages and within each language. Furthermore, we suspect that learning the meanings of classifiers requires a certain cognitive ability - an ability to synthesize pieces of partial knowledge and form them into a cohesive whole. It may be only when children have developed such an ability that they are able to extract the complex semantic rules of classifiers on their own. We conclude that children take very different routes in learning nouns and classifiers: Unlike noun acquisition, classifier acquisition is guided by a slow, bottom-up process.
KW - Bottom-up process
KW - Japanese and Chinese children
KW - Lexical acquisition
KW - Semantic complexity
KW - The prerequisites for extracting the meanings of classifiers
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033422179
VL - 41
SP - 50
EP - 69
JO - Japanese Psychological Research
JF - Japanese Psychological Research
SN - 0021-5368
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ER -