Abstract
This experiment explored as a function of development the changes in the content of subjects' concepts of motion verbs. 60 subjects (3-yr.-olds, 4-yr.-olds, 5-yr.-olds and adults) took part in interviews in which questions designed to assess their understanding of the meanings of 10 verbs were posed. Analyses of the response-types produced, the level of generality of concept instances discussed, and the appropriateness of the word definitions supplied all indicated that children's concepts are initially quite particular and limited mainly to knowledge of the situations and entities to which the verbs can apply. Development of verb meanings appears to consist of generalization of the concepts underlying use of the words, replacing particular specific information about the referents to which the words may apply.
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