Overgeneralization!

Blog #6
As a babysitter, I hear babies using overgeneralization quite often. Babies tend to hold on to a rule and apply it to everything else. This past weekend I heard a child over generalizing the numbers. I worked with James over spring break to help him learn his alphabet. When we were done I asked him to count for me. He did perfectly fine until he got to 29. After that he began, 20-10,20-11,20-12,20-13…..I corrected him. James over generalized the number order, the same way that anyone can over generalize a different rule. I find this topic very interesting because, not only do babies use it, but other language learners can too. When I was learning my second language I also used overgeneralization with some of my grammar rules. I specifically remember having trouble with my plurals. I wanted everything to have “S” at the end. I remember that I understood that child was one, but more than one child to me was, “childs.” Even after a couple of teacher corrections, I still didn’t understand why the plural was children. "Childrens" to me was a little more correct. I felt confused. It took some time to accept the rule, and I’ve never forgotten the plural, children.