What is the term used to describe the process involved when a child uses one word like "ball" to refer to an "apple", an "egg", a "grape" and a "ball"?

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Collin Noble

English

6 January, 00:17

What is the term used to describe the process involved when a child uses one word like "ball" to refer to an "apple", an "egg", a "grape" and a "ball"?

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Saul · Answer 1

The term is called overextension which is used to describe a situation whereby a child overextends or generalizes the meaning of words when referring to other things or objects that look almost similar in shape, appearance, sound, movement, etc. For example, a child may use the word "cat" to refer to any animal.