Morpheme overgeneralization indicates what about a child's language development?

Morpheme overgeneralization indicates what about a child's language development?

• A. The child is ignoring morphology
• B. The child has stopped acquiring new morphemes
• C. The child is using the morpheme rule productively
• D. The child is using correct irregular forms

Answer: (C)

Morpheme overgeneralization shows that a child is learning and testing how to use small pieces of language by applying a rule broadly. When kids start adding endings like -ed for past tense or -s for plurals to many words, they’re not just memorizing forms; they’re abstracting a pattern and using it productively. So they might say “goed” for went or “mouses” for mice, applying the general rule to new words and showing they’re actively constructing grammar. This indicates ongoing language development and rule discovery, not neglect of morphology or a halt in learning. The idea that they’re using correct irregular forms would not involve overgeneralization, and thinking they’ve stopped learning would contradict the observed creativity in applying rules.

Morpheme overgeneralization shows that a child is learning and testing how to use small pieces of language by applying a rule broadly. When kids start adding endings like -ed for past tense or -s for plurals to many words, they’re not just memorizing forms; they’re abstracting a pattern and using it productively. So they might say “goed” for went or “mouses” for mice, applying the general rule to new words and showing they’re actively constructing grammar. This indicates ongoing language development and rule discovery, not neglect of morphology or a halt in learning. The idea that they’re using correct irregular forms would not involve overgeneralization, and thinking they’ve stopped learning would contradict the observed creativity in applying rules.