Summary ADDIT Week 5: Acquisition of Semantic

Name: Bryna Albright Wiladi

NPM: 182122014
Class: A

Definition

Semantics is the study of meaning in language. It can be applied to entire texts or to

single words. For example, "destination" and "last stop" technically mean the same thing, but
students of semantics analyze their subtle shades of meaning.

The Acquisition of Word Meaning (Semantic)

In addition to what it tells us about phonological regularities, the child’s early vocabulary also
provides insight into how children use words and construct word meaning.

For J. P. the word up was originally used only to mean “Get me up!” when he was either on
the floor or in his high chair, but later he used it to mean “Get up!” to his mother as well.

J. P. used his word for sock not only for socks but also for other undergarments that are put
on over the feet, such as undershorts.

This illustrates how a child may extend the meaning of a Word from a particular referent
to encompass a larger class.

Even if the mother simply says “cat,” and the child accidentally associates the word with the
animal on the mat, the child may interpret cat as “Cat,” the name of a particular animal, or of
an entire species.

In other words, to learn a Word for a class of objects such as “cat” or “dog,” children have to
figure out exactly what the word refers to.

Upon hearing the word dog in the presence of a dog, how does the child know that “dog” can
refer to any four-legged, hairy, barking creature?

Thus, in order to acquire the semantics of a language, a child must do three things:
1. Must identify the relevant linguistic items
2. Must identify (and understand) the meanings these link to
3. Must learn how the forms connect to the meanings.