Chad uses the word "truck" whenever he sees his father's big red logging truck. All other automobiles, including other trucks, are called, "cars." The characteristic error in word use of "truck" is known as

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Underextension is the characteristic error in word use where a word is used too narrowly, with too limited a definition, such as using "truck" only to refer to his father's logging truck and not to any other type of truck. Overextension is the opposite error, where a word is used too broadly, such as using "truck" to refer to all vehicles on the road, whether they are cars, buses, or even bicycles. Constriction and limitation are not recognized terms in the study of language acquisition.

Chad Uses the Word "Truck" Whenever He Sees His Father's