At an event crowded with strangers, a toddler calls each man, "Daddy." She makes the fast-mapping error called

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fast-mapping error of overextension occurs when a child applies a word too broadly, such as calling all men "daddy." This is especially common in toddlers who are just beginning to learn language and may not have a complete understanding of the meanings of words yet. Holophrastic ambition refers to the use of a single word to express a complete thought, and is not relevant to this scenario. Underextension would occur if the child only called her actual father "daddy" and no other men. Linguistic universalization is not a recognized term in language development.

At an Event Crowded with Strangers, a Toddler Calls Each