Ed knows what a horse is but has never seen nor heard of a camel. When Ed sees his first camel, he says "horsey." Which concept best explains Ed's reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ed's use of the word "horsey" to refer to a camel demonstrates overextension, which is the tendency for young children to use a word in a broader context than it should be used. In this case, Ed is extending the meaning of the word "horse" to include camels, which he has not yet learned to differentiate as a separate concept.

Ed Knows What a Horse Is but Has Never Seen