When a child calls all four-legged animals "doggie," this is an example of what process?

• A. Overextension
• B. Overgeneralization
• C. Underextension
• D. Classification

Answer: (A)

The process being described, where a child refers to all four-legged animals as "doggie," is indeed known as overextension. This occurs when a child applies a word they have learned, in this case, "doggie," too broadly to include subjects beyond the intended meaning. It reflects the child's developing understanding of language and categorization, as they are attempting to use a familiar word to connect with a range of experiences.

Overextension is a common phenomenon in language development. Young children often use a single term to designate a variety of related objects or entities because they have not yet grasped the specific labels for each item. In this case, the child associates the characteristics of dogs (such as having four legs and a furry body) with other animals, thereby extending the meaning of the term beyond its accurate definition. This indicates that the child is actively engaging with language, trying to make sense of the world around them, and is a normal part of cognitive and linguistic development.

The other options would not accurately describe this phenomenon. Underextension, for example, involves using a word too narrowly, while classification and overgeneralization relate to different aspects of understanding and categorizing items. Therefore, overextension accurately captures the child’s use of "doggie"