A child learns to call a dog "bow-wow" and now calls all animals he sees "bow-wow." What is this child's behaviour an example of?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This behavior is an example of overextension, which occurs when a child applies a word too broadly, extending its meaning to include objects or concepts that differ from the original object or concept the word was associated with. In this case, the child is using "bow-wow" to refer to all animals, not just dogs.

A Child Learns to Call a Dog "Bow-Wow" and Now