John Benjamins Publishing Company
Lexical development in Hebrew
-
Batia Seroussi
Abstract
Lexical acquisition in Hebrew is governed by general developmental principles that are shared with other languages, such as an initial preference for (concrete) nouns followed by verbs and adjectives. The protracted nature of the process from early words to proficiency is also shared with other languages. On the other hand, typologically-driven sensitivity to the internal structure of words and the Semitic consonantal root combines with such general trends to yield an interesting U-shaped learning curve in terms of generality/specificity, as follows: An early general lexicon that does not differentiate between derived and nonderived words, followed by pronounced sensitivity to Hebrew wordformation typology from the later pre-school years (around age 4 to 5) and on through school age, leading up to a highly specialized literate lexicon that includes two major sub-lexicons, of non-derived and derived, typically Semitic words. The chapter delineates the path that Hebrew-speaking children and adolescents follow in acquiring a flexible and proficient lexicon made up of both types of (content) words.
Abstract
Lexical acquisition in Hebrew is governed by general developmental principles that are shared with other languages, such as an initial preference for (concrete) nouns followed by verbs and adjectives. The protracted nature of the process from early words to proficiency is also shared with other languages. On the other hand, typologically-driven sensitivity to the internal structure of words and the Semitic consonantal root combines with such general trends to yield an interesting U-shaped learning curve in terms of generality/specificity, as follows: An early general lexicon that does not differentiate between derived and nonderived words, followed by pronounced sensitivity to Hebrew wordformation typology from the later pre-school years (around age 4 to 5) and on through school age, leading up to a highly specialized literate lexicon that includes two major sub-lexicons, of non-derived and derived, typically Semitic words. The chapter delineates the path that Hebrew-speaking children and adolescents follow in acquiring a flexible and proficient lexicon made up of both types of (content) words.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Transcription and coding conventions ix
- Typology, acquisition, and development 1
- Paths and stages in acquisition of the phonological word in Hebrew 39
- Phonological development in Israeli Hebrew-learning infants and toddlers 69
- Foundations of the early root category 95
- Development of Hebrew derivational morphology from preschool to adolescence 135
- Lexical development in Hebrew 175
- The nature of CDS in Hebrew 201
- From opacity to transparency 225
- Development of intra- and inter-clausal dependency in Hebrew 259
- Expression of temporality in Hebrew narratives written by deaf adolescents 295
- Early development of written language in Hebrew 325
- Metalinguistic awareness in reading Hebrew L2 353
- Author Index 387
- Subject Index 395
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Transcription and coding conventions ix
- Typology, acquisition, and development 1
- Paths and stages in acquisition of the phonological word in Hebrew 39
- Phonological development in Israeli Hebrew-learning infants and toddlers 69
- Foundations of the early root category 95
- Development of Hebrew derivational morphology from preschool to adolescence 135
- Lexical development in Hebrew 175
- The nature of CDS in Hebrew 201
- From opacity to transparency 225
- Development of intra- and inter-clausal dependency in Hebrew 259
- Expression of temporality in Hebrew narratives written by deaf adolescents 295
- Early development of written language in Hebrew 325
- Metalinguistic awareness in reading Hebrew L2 353
- Author Index 387
- Subject Index 395
