Suffix predictability and stem transparency in the acquisition of German noun plurals
-
Sabine Laaha
Abstract
This study examines the impact of suffix and stem properties on children’s acquisition of German noun plural morphology. As to suffix selection, we distinguish three levels of predictability: highly predictable, partially predictable and exceptional, based on sonority/gender distributions in actual language use. As to stem change, we distinguish three levels of transparency: no change, slight change (revoicing) and strong change (Umlaut). The relevance of suffix predictability and stem transparency is tested in 140 German-speaking children from the age of three to nine years, by using a plural elicitation task. Results show that both variables have an impact on children’s correct production of plural forms; there was no significant interaction between the two variables in the acquisition process. The results are discussed with regard to single- and dual-route models of morphology and acquisition.
Abstract
This study examines the impact of suffix and stem properties on children’s acquisition of German noun plural morphology. As to suffix selection, we distinguish three levels of predictability: highly predictable, partially predictable and exceptional, based on sonority/gender distributions in actual language use. As to stem change, we distinguish three levels of transparency: no change, slight change (revoicing) and strong change (Umlaut). The relevance of suffix predictability and stem transparency is tested in 140 German-speaking children from the age of three to nine years, by using a plural elicitation task. Results show that both variables have an impact on children’s correct production of plural forms; there was no significant interaction between the two variables in the acquisition process. The results are discussed with regard to single- and dual-route models of morphology and acquisition.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword & acknowledgments vii
- Editors’ introduction ix
-
Part I. Regularity, irregularity, and analogy
- Arguments from Lovari loan-verb adaptation for an analogy-based analysis of verbal systems 3
- Possible and impossible variation in Hungarian 23
- Variation in the possessive allomorphy of Hungarian 51
- Revisiting exocentricity in compounding 65
- A constructionist account of the Modern Dutch adnominal genitive 83
-
Part II. The role of frequency in morphological complexity, morphological change and language acquisition
- Perspectives on morphological complexity 107
- Morphological complexity and unsupervised learning 135
- A working typology of multiple exponence 163
- Linguistic self-regulation 189
- Suffix predictability and stem transparency in the acquisition of German noun plurals 217
- Acquisition of German diminutive formation and compounding in a comparative perspective 237
- Index 265
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword & acknowledgments vii
- Editors’ introduction ix
-
Part I. Regularity, irregularity, and analogy
- Arguments from Lovari loan-verb adaptation for an analogy-based analysis of verbal systems 3
- Possible and impossible variation in Hungarian 23
- Variation in the possessive allomorphy of Hungarian 51
- Revisiting exocentricity in compounding 65
- A constructionist account of the Modern Dutch adnominal genitive 83
-
Part II. The role of frequency in morphological complexity, morphological change and language acquisition
- Perspectives on morphological complexity 107
- Morphological complexity and unsupervised learning 135
- A working typology of multiple exponence 163
- Linguistic self-regulation 189
- Suffix predictability and stem transparency in the acquisition of German noun plurals 217
- Acquisition of German diminutive formation and compounding in a comparative perspective 237
- Index 265
