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Are Generics Defaults? A Study on the Interpretation of Generics and Universals in 3 Age-Groups of Spanish-Speaking Individuals

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Title: Are Generics Defaults? A Study on the Interpretation of Generics and Universals in 3 Age-Groups of Spanish-Speaking Individuals
Language: English
Authors: Castroviejo, Elena (ORCID 0000-0003-0371-1214), Hernández-Conde, José V. (ORCID 0000-0002-8502-6570), Lazaridou-Chatzigoga, Dimitra (ORCID 0000-0002-4040-7687), Ponciano, Marta (ORCID 0000-0002-7062-0518), Vicente, Agustín (ORCID 0000-0002-5331-5546)
Source: Language Learning and Development. 2023 19(3):275-302.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Spanish Speaking, Age Groups, Accuracy, Semantics, Comparative Analysis, Generalization, Preschool Children, Adults, Language Processing, Error Patterns, Linguistic Theory, Correlation, Language Universals, Child Care, Elementary School Students, Foreign Countries, Prediction, Computer Games, Task Analysis, Sentence Structure
Geographic Terms: Spain
DOI: 10.1080/15475441.2022.2071715
ISSN: 1547-5441
1547-3341
Abstract: This paper reports an experiment that investigates interpretive distinctions between two different expressions of generalization in Spanish. In particular, our aim was to find out when the distinction between generic statements (GS) such as "Tigers have stripes" and universally quantified statements (UQS) such as "All tigers have stripes" was acquired in Spanish-speaking children of two different age groups (4/5-year-olds and 8/9-year-olds), and then compare these results with those of adults. The starting point of this research was the semantic distinction between GS and UQS in that the former admit exceptions, unlike the latter. On the other hand, several authors have observed a Generic overgeneralization effect (GOG) consisting in allowing for UQS to be felicitous in the face of exceptions, thus proposing that this "error" stems from GS being defaults (simpler, more easily learned and processed). In the current paper we aimed to test the "Generics as Default" (GaD) hypothesis by comparing GS and UQS in three different age ranges. Our data show that, overall, the accuracy of GS is greater than the accuracy of UQS. Moreover, we also confirm a hypothesized interaction between age and NP type (GS vs UQS). Further, we present several data points that are not predicted by the GaD, including an observed decline in the accuracy of GS in the older group of children as well as in adults, and that children fail at rejecting statements that are not considered to be true generalizations.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1390907
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Are Generics Defaults? A Study on the Interpretation of Generics and Universals in 3 Age-Groups of Spanish-Speaking Individuals
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Castroviejo%2C+Elena%22">Castroviejo, Elena</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0371-1214">0000-0003-0371-1214</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hernández-Conde%2C+José+V%2E%22">Hernández-Conde, José V.</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8502-6570">0000-0002-8502-6570</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lazaridou-Chatzigoga%2C+Dimitra%22">Lazaridou-Chatzigoga, Dimitra</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4040-7687">0000-0002-4040-7687</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ponciano%2C+Marta%22">Ponciano, Marta</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7062-0518">0000-0002-7062-0518</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vicente%2C+Agustín%22">Vicente, Agustín</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5331-5546">0000-0002-5331-5546</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Learning+and+Development%22"><i>Language Learning and Development</i></searchLink>. 2023 19(3):275-302.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 28
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2023
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spanish+Speaking%22">Spanish Speaking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Groups%22">Age Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accuracy%22">Accuracy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semantics%22">Semantics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+Analysis%22">Comparative Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generalization%22">Generalization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Processing%22">Language Processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Error+Patterns%22">Error Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistic+Theory%22">Linguistic Theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correlation%22">Correlation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Universals%22">Language Universals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Care%22">Child Care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prediction%22">Prediction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Games%22">Computer Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+Analysis%22">Task Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sentence+Structure%22">Sentence Structure</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spain%22">Spain</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/15475441.2022.2071715
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  Data: 1547-5441<br />1547-3341
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This paper reports an experiment that investigates interpretive distinctions between two different expressions of generalization in Spanish. In particular, our aim was to find out when the distinction between generic statements (GS) such as "Tigers have stripes" and universally quantified statements (UQS) such as "All tigers have stripes" was acquired in Spanish-speaking children of two different age groups (4/5-year-olds and 8/9-year-olds), and then compare these results with those of adults. The starting point of this research was the semantic distinction between GS and UQS in that the former admit exceptions, unlike the latter. On the other hand, several authors have observed a Generic overgeneralization effect (GOG) consisting in allowing for UQS to be felicitous in the face of exceptions, thus proposing that this "error" stems from GS being defaults (simpler, more easily learned and processed). In the current paper we aimed to test the "Generics as Default" (GaD) hypothesis by comparing GS and UQS in three different age ranges. Our data show that, overall, the accuracy of GS is greater than the accuracy of UQS. Moreover, we also confirm a hypothesized interaction between age and NP type (GS vs UQS). Further, we present several data points that are not predicted by the GaD, including an observed decline in the accuracy of GS in the older group of children as well as in adults, and that children fail at rejecting statements that are not considered to be true generalizations.
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  Data: EJ1390907
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1390907
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        Value: 10.1080/15475441.2022.2071715
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Spanish Speaking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Accuracy
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      – SubjectFull: Semantics
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      – SubjectFull: Language Processing
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      – SubjectFull: Error Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Linguistic Theory
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      – SubjectFull: Sentence Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Spain
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