Abstract
The recursive computational mechanism generates an infinite range of expressions. However, little is known about how different concepts interact with each other within recursive structures. The current study investigated how Mandarin-speaking children dealt with possessives and generics in recursive structures. The picture-matching task showed that Mandarin-speaking children 4 to 6 had a bias for generics in ambiguous possessive constructions in Mandarin, where the genitive maker was covert (e.g., Yuehan de baobao chuang John’s kid bed, where baobao chuang kid bed has both a generic interpretation and a referential interpretation). It was found that that Mandarin-speaking children below 6 had a non-recursive interpretation of the possessive John’s kid(’s) bed, and instead understand kid’s bed to refer generically to a type of bed. This finding suggests that semantics does not parallel syntax in the acquisition of indirect recursion, in line with the prediction of the generic-as-default hypothesis which claims that generics are the default mode of representation of ambiguous statements when the statement can be either generic or non-generic. The delayed recursive possessive interpretation suggests that the full determiner phrase is acquired later than a noun phrase modification, which is universal in all languages. We also discuss the role of the overt functional category in the acquisition of indirect recursion.
Highlights
An intriguing enquiry in acquisition literature is the question of how children reach the final state of grammar, but language-specific parameters and language experience complicate theoretical accounts
The current study investigated how Mandarin-speaking children dealt with possessives and generics in recursive structures
It was found that that Mandarin-speaking children below 6 had a non-recursive interpretation of the possessive John’s kid(’s) bed, and instead understand kid’s bed to refer generically to a type of bed. This finding suggests that semantics does not parallel syntax in the acquisition of indirect recursion, in line with the prediction of the generic-as-default hypothesis which claims that generics are the default mode of representation of ambiguous statements when the statement can be either generic or non-generic
Summary
An intriguing enquiry in acquisition literature is the question of how children reach the final state of grammar, but language-specific parameters and language experience complicate theoretical accounts. Empirical studies seek to establish an acquisition theory by answering the following questions: how the efficient grammar growth happens, whether developmental stages can be predicted, how different levels of linguistic representations (syntax, semantic, phonology, and pragmatics) interface, and the extent to which the universality of language can be explained (Roeper, 2021). In light of these questions, studies on the acquisition of recursive structures have emerged, since recursion is the core property of human language (Hauser et al, 2002). The current study provides a cross-linguistic comparison of the developmental trajectory of recursive possessives where generics are embedded
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
