title: Generics license 30-month-olds' inferences about the atypical properties of novel kinds.
abstract: We examined whether the distinction between generic and nongeneric language provides toddlers with a rapid and efficient means to learn about kinds. In Experiment 1, we examined 30-month-olds' willingness to extend atypical properties to members of an unfamiliar category when the properties were introduced in 1 of 3 ways: (a) using a generic noun phrase ("Blicks drink ketchup"); (b) using a nongeneric noun phrase ("These blicks drink ketchup"); and (c) using an attentional phrase ("Look at this"). Hearing a generic noun phrase boosted toddlers' extension of properties to both the model exemplars and to novel members of the same category, relative to when a property had been introduced with a nongeneric noun phrase or an attentional phrase. In Experiment 2, properties were introduced with a generic noun phrase, and toddlers extended novel properties to members of the same-category, but not to an out-of-category object. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that generics highlight the stability of a feature and foster generalization of the property to novel within-category exemplars. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary.
authors: Susan A
authors: SA
authors: Graham
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan.
authors: Susan A
authors: SA
authors: Gelman
authors: University of Alberta.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests