Reduplicated Words Are Easier to Learn

Abstract

ABSTRACTInfants’ disposition to learn repetitions in the input structure has been demonstrated in pattern generalization (e.g., learning the pattern ABB from the token ledidi). This study tested whether a repetition advantage can also be found in lexical learning (i.e., learning the word lele vs. ledi). Twenty-four English-learning infants (mean age: 18.5 months) were exposed to novel word-object mappings involving either a reduplicated CVCV word (e.g., neenee) or a nonreduplicated CVCV word (e.g, bolay). Infants were more adept at learning word-object mappings with a reduplicated word than with a nonreduplicated word. A follow-up corpus analysis of infant-directed speech showed that this preference could not be attributed to the frequency patterns of reduplicated words or syllables in the linguistic input. These findings indicate that an experience-independent bias toward repeated elements plays an important role not only in pattern generalization but also in word learning.