What is overextension in language?

Overextension in language is a phenomenon that occurs when a child uses a word to refer to multiple or unrelated objects, events, or concepts. For instance, a child may call all four-legged animals “doggie” or refers to all birds as “duck.” This mistake usually occurs in the early stages of language development and happens as a way for children to simplify the complexities of language as they learn new words.

Overextension can occur in different ways, such as categorical overextension, meaning a child using the words beyond their typical range, or analogical overextension, when the child uses the word outside of its normal context.

While overextension is a natural part of a child’s language acquisition journey, it can lead to confusion or misunderstanding between adults and the child if not corrected timely. Adults can help correct overextension by introducing new words, modeling correct language use and providing simple explanations. Generally, overextension tends to decrease as a child’s vocabulary and understanding of language expand.