Underextension in early word use refers to which?

Underextension in early word use refers to which?

• A. Extending a word's usage to a wide range of unrelated referents
• B. Using a word for a broader set of referents than intended
• C. Neglecting a word's usage completely
• D. Limiting a word's usage to a narrow referent

Answer: (D)

In early word learning, children often keep meanings narrow, using a word only for a single item rather than for a whole category. Underextension happens when a child uses a word to refer to a very limited set of referents instead of all things that fit the general category. For example, a child might call only their own family dog “dog” and not other dogs, or use “cup” only for their special cup and not for any other cup. This narrowing matches the idea of underextension. The other patterns describe broader use—extending a word to many unrelated things or calling more items by the word than intended—or simply not using the word at all, which aren’t underextension.

In early word learning, children often keep meanings narrow, using a word only for a single item rather than for a whole category. Underextension happens when a child uses a word to refer to a very limited set of referents instead of all things that fit the general category. For example, a child might call only their own family dog “dog” and not other dogs, or use “cup” only for their special cup and not for any other cup. This narrowing matches the idea of underextension. The other patterns describe broader use—extending a word to many unrelated things or calling more items by the word than intended—or simply not using the word at all, which aren’t underextension.