Children’s Label-Learning Experience within Superordinate Categories Facilitates their Generalization of Labels for Additional Category Members

In two studies, we tested the relationship between children’s label-learning experience and label-learning ability within diverse superordinate categories with complex perceptual organization (animals, clothing, foods). Using both quasi-experimental and experimental designs, we examined 18- and 24-month-old children’s ability to generalize labels for novel members of superordinate categories as a product of their previous experience in learning labels for members of those categories. As predicted, children properly generalized more labels for members of the categories within which they had more label-learning experience than for members of the categories within which they had less label-learning experience. Results are consistent with the idea that children develop category-specific label-learning biases through their experience in learning labels for category members; they carry implications for multiple accounts of vocabulary acquisition and identify directions for future research.