The Acquisition of Derivational Morphology: A cross-linguistic perspective

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the early stages of derivational morphology acquisition across different languages, highlighting the influence of language structure on development. It offers valuable insights into the cognitive processes involved in language acquisition and sheds light on the universality and diversity of developmental patterns.
The book explores the acquisition of derivational morphology in diverse languages, comparing child speech to parental child-directed speech. It employs the mini-paradigm criterion to identify productive patterns and highlights the impact of language structure on development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 307 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2021
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate processes of acquiring derivational morphology in early language development, offering a groundbreaking cross-linguistic and typological perspective. It presents a collection of ten empirical longitudinal studies conducted across genealogically and typologically diverse languages, including Indo-European, Finno-Ugric, and Altaic, each with varying degrees of derivational complexity. The meticulous data collection, analysis, and systematic comparison between child speech and parental child-directed speech are meticulously parallel throughout the chapters. By employing the concept of the mini-paradigm criterion, the book aims to identify the productivity of a derivational pattern, signaling the crucial developmental stage in its acquisition.

What emerges from these studies is a fascinating insight into the universal developmental processes observed in all children, regardless of the language they acquire. However, it is also evident that the children's courses of development exhibit distinct typological variations, highlighting the profound impact of the structural properties of the specific language on the emergence, usage, and early course of development of derivational patterns.

The findings of this book shed light on the complex interplay between language structure, cognitive development, and the acquisition of linguistic structures. It provides valuable insights for researchers, educators, and language practitioners interested in understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying language acquisition and the development of derivational morphology. By exploring the diverse languages and typological contexts, this book contributes to our understanding of the universality and variability of language development and offers valuable implications for language teaching and learning.

Weight: 714g
Dimension: 172 x 248 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789027209825