What Is Overregularization in Grammar

Overregularization is a  part of the language-learning process in which children extend regular grammatical patterns to irregular words, such as the use of goed   for went, or tooths for teeth. This is also known as regularization. Although technically wrong, says  Kathleen Stassen Berger, overregularization is actually a sign of verbal sophistication: it shows that children are applying the rules. Meanwhile, The cure for  overregularization, according to Steven Pinker and Alan Prince, is  living longer, thereby hearing irregular past tense forms more often and strengthening [childrens]  memory traces.   An Example of Overregularization He is a perfectly healthy little boy with no more fears and worries than any other youngsters his age [two and a half], but one night he awakens screaming for Mommy and Daddy. Ginger bited me! he wails. Ginger is the little cocker spaniel next door. Stevie had been playing with him that afternoon. Mother had been there the whole time.  Ginger had not bitten Stevie. No, darling, Ginger didnt bite you! says Mama, comforting him. He did.  He bited me  on my foot.(Selma H. Fraiberg, The Magic Years) What Childrens Errors Tell Us Childrens errors...give us an idea about the state of their developing grammar systems. In fact, it may be inappropriate even to call them errors since they are often logical forms for the childs current state of development. The kinds of variation from adult rules that children make are often not ones that parents are likely to have made in any context, so children did not learn these variations through repetition. What parent would say to a child, often enough for the child to have acquired through repetition: The baby goed home or The baby wented home, My feets hurt or  even My foots hurt? In each of these utterances, it is clear that the child has figured out a commonly used structure rule but has not yet learned that there are exceptions to the rule.(Elizabeth Winkler, Understanding Language: A Basic Course in Linguistics, 2nd ed.) Overregularization and Plurality [O]ne of the first rules that English-speaking children apply is to add -s to form the plural. Overregularization leads many young children to talk about foots, tooths, sheeps, and mouses. They may even put the -s on adjectives when the adjectives are acting as nouns, as in this dinner-table exchange between my 3-year-old and her father:Sarah: I want somes.​Father: You want some what?Sarah: I want some mores.Father: Some more what?Sarah: I want some more chickens.​ Although technically wrong, overregularization is actually a sign of verbal sophistication: it shows that children are applying the rules. Indeed, as young children become more conscious of grammatical usages, they exhibit increasingly sophisticated misapplication of them. A child who at age 2 correctly says she broke a glass may at age 4 say she braked one and then at age 5 say she did braked another.(Kathleen Stassen Berger, The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence) Regularizing the Language Regularization errors have been taken as evidence either that children rely on a template or schema for producing a stem and inflection, or that they have started to make use of an abstract rule . . ..Many observers, from at least Rousseau on, have noticed that children tend to regularize their language, getting rid of many irregular forms in adult use. Berko (1958) was one of the first people to offer experimental evidence that by age five to seven, children had identified different inflectional affixes and were able to add them to nonsense stems they had never heard before.(Eve V. Clark, First Language Acquisition) Overregularization and Language Development [O]verregularization errors occur over protracted periods of development.  Marcus et al. demonstrated that the rate of  overregularization is  much lower than was typically assumed, i.e., children usually do not overregularize more often than 5-10% of the irregular verbs in their expressive vocabularies at any given time. Furthermore, the correct past tense form co-occurs with the incorrect version.(Jeffrey L. Elman et al., Rethinking Innateness: A Connectionist Perspective on Development) Sources The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence, 2003. Regular and Irregular Morphology and the Psychological Status of Rules of Grammar in The Reality of Linguistic Rules, 1994.

Was War Against The Confederate States of America Justified

The Civil War was a trying time in American History; societies crumbled, lives were lost, and a nation was torn apart in order to be made whole. However, was this conflict inevitable? Were the North and the South destined to battle out their differences? Were the decisions made by President Abraham Lincoln to make war on the CSA justified? While there is much deliberation on this topic, the final answer is yes to each and every question. The North and the South, though they shared many similarities, were irreparably divided over the slavery issue, such that conflict could not be avoided. Lincoln’s deliberations on the situations of the day were the only acceptable response to the issues at hand. Disagreement caused by the slavery issue†¦show more content†¦This decision was not only just, but necessary for the Union to continue in the way the Founders had intended. Lincoln’s main reason for allowing the Civil War to occur was his belief that the South had overs tepped the bounds of law in order to maintain slavery. In the campaign for the Illinois Senate seat, Lincoln managed to maneuver Stephen A. Douglas, his key opponent, into an extremely vital and incriminating statement of the South’s intentions. â€Å"It matters not what the Supreme Court may†¦decide as to the abstract question of whether slavery may or may not go into a Territory†¦. The people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please.†[7] This set off a red flag in politicians’ minds: did the South really believe it could override the laws of the United States? Evidently they did believe so, as in 1861 the South seceded from the nation, formed a confederation, elected leaders, and coined money; all of which were completely unconstitutional acts. Lincoln’s reverence for the law as the basis of the nation’s principles demanded that war be enacted to combat the South, who had blatantly defied those principles. In o rder for the Union to continue, its constituents had to follow its statutes or it would crumble. Both the division of the North and South and a President who protected the laws of the nation set the stage for a poignant question: Was the war with the South inevitable? The answer is, undoubtedly,Show MoreRelatedEssay about How Justified Were President Lincoln’s Wartime Decisions?559 Words   |  3 PagesHow Justified Were President Lincoln’s Wartime Decisions? In a time of war, it is necessary for the President to enforce limits on the power of individuals. President Lincoln was entirely justified in limiting rights during the wartime situation to protect the nation. It was also necessary for him to increase the size of the federal army in order for the North to have any possibility of winning the war. Lincoln had to do all that he could to keep the Border States, each of which the Union couldRead MoreThe Civil War1055 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Civil War and what happened as soon as President Abraham Lincoln was elected to office. Then to add in the action the story line will tell about major battles of the war to include the battle of Bull Run, the seven days battle at Richmond, the second battle of Bull Run, and the battle at Antietam. Then comes the Emancipation Proclamation and what it brought about to the United States of America. So please sit back, relax, and enjoy the information this story has to offer. The war started theRead MoreUnderstanding The Civil War1710 Words   |  7 Pages Civil War Chris Cowan HIS/155 November 11, 2015 Civil War Understanding the Civil War is very important, to understand the way America has been shaped through out the past couple of centuries. Shelby Foote, a historian, believed that the Civil War defines the people in America. The Civil War was a war involving the North (The Union) and the South (The Confederates) who had different points of view over whether or not slavery was justified. Ultimately around 600,000 Americans lost theirRead MoreSignificance Of The Dred Scott Supreme Court Case1240 Words   |  5 PagesCourt case. The Dred Scott case took place in 1857. Dred Scott sued in federal court claiming that he was a free citizen. He had been taken to a slave-free territory by his owner, who was an army doctor (history.com). Since the state was free he also declared that he too was free, so Scott sued. He said that he was a citizen of Missouri and a free man. This case became a legal nightmare. This case was basically trying to figure out if slavery should be allowed in the south or not (history.com). ScottRead MoreFranz Lieber and the Lieber Code1305 Words   |  5 Pagesof the deadliest war in American History, there stood a voice of morality and reason on the United States soil. 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A Short Biography about the author Free Essays

Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr. We will write a custom essay sample on A Short Biography about the author or any similar topic only for you Order Now was born in Los Angeles, California, U. S. A., on June 14, 1939. An American Evangelical Writer and Minister, with an existing radio program entitled â€Å"Grace to You†, currently serving as a Pastor/Teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California, also holding the position of President of The Master’s College (and it’s Seminary), located in Santa Clarita, California. He is the son of Dr. Jack MacArthur (also an accomplished Preacher in his time), John was a gifted athlete who attended the Bob Jones University before moving to Los Angeles Pacific College (now name Azusa Pacific University). He earned his Masters of Divinity course at Talbot Theological Seminary in La Mirada graduated with honors in 1969. He was the third Pastor in the Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in the same place. John MacArthur   and his wife, Patricia, have four children,   eight grandchildren, and are living in Santa Clarita, California.   In 1985, he became the President of the Master’s College (used to be named and known as the Los Angeles Baptist College), an accredited four year liberal arts Christian College a year later he founded the Master’s Seminary. His daily radio program â€Å"Grace to You† is being broadcast   not just in California or the U. S. A. but also through out many parts of the world. He is an author to many dozens of books with notable commentary series various Bible Study Guides. He works alongside Phil Johnson who usually edits most of his written works. MacArthur has been involved in a lot of controversial issues, the greatest one of which was when his evangelical church for the first time, got sued for malpractice charge. A certain Kenneth Nally, a 24 year old seminary student from their school committed suicide in 1979. A year after, MacArthur several other members of their staff   appeared before the court about the legality of their Biblical counseling procedures from the modern psychological approach, notwithstanding that Nally has been under a psychological   help from the outside. Several years passed with various court rules, appeals, hearings until the California Supreme Court ruled out that there was insufficient evidence to   forego on the case into a full trial. How to cite A Short Biography about the author, Papers

Native Son Character Actions Defines Their Individual Essay Example For Students

Native Son: Character Actions Defines Their Individual Essay Personalities and Belief SystemsRichard Wrights novel, Native Son, consisted of various main andsupporting character to deliver an effective array ofpersonalities and expression. Each characters actions definestheir individual personalities and belief systems. The maincharacter of Native Son, Bigger Thomas has personality traitsspanning various aspect of human nature including actionsmotivated by fear, quick temper, and a high degree ofintelligence.Bigger, whom the novel revolves around, portraysvarious personality elements through his actions. Many of his action suggest an overriding response to fear, whichstems from his exposure to a harsh social climate in which a clearline between acceptable behavior for whites and blacks exists. His swift anger and his destructive impulses stem from that fearand becomes apparent in the opening scene when he fiercely attacksa huge rat. The same murderous impulse appears when his secretdread of the delicatessen robbery impels him to commit a viciousassault on his friend Gus. Bigger commits both of the brutalmurders not in rage or anger, but as a reaction to fear. Histypical fear stems from being caught in the act of doingsomething socially unacceptable and being the subject ofpunishment. Although he later admits to Max that Mary Daltonsbehavior toward him made him hate her, it is not that hate whichcauses him to smother her to death, but a feeble attempt to evadethe detection of her mother. The fear of being caught with awhite woman overwhelmed his common sense and dictated hisactions. When he attempted to murder Bessie, his motivation camefrom intense fear of the consequences of letting her live. Bigger realized that he could not take Bessie with him or leaveher behind and concluded that killing her could provide her onlymerciful end. The emotional forces that drive Bigger are conveyed by means otherthan his words. Besides reactions to fear, his actions demonstratean extremely quick temper and destructive impulse as an integralpart of his nature. Rage plays a key part in his basic nature,but does not directly motivate the murders he commits. Rage doesnot affect Biggers intelligence and quick thinking and it becomesevident during the interview with Briton. The detective makesBigger so angry that the interrogation becomes a game to Bigger,a game of logic and wills, of playing the stupid negro, andtelling the man exactly what he wants to hear. The game Biggerplays during the interrogation shows his great intelligence andability to think quickly on his feet. Bigger also displayed hisintelligence in the creation of the ransom note. Using thesituation to his advantage, Bigger wrote a ransom note to extortMarys parents for money. To make the note even more convincingand to dissuade blame from himself, Bigger signs the no te with thecommunist symbol of a hammer and sickle. Although the book revolves around Bigger he possesses few goodqualities, which get his horrendous actions negate, making him ananti-hero. He possess the violent tendencies to commit rape,extortion of the dead girls parents, robbing, and killing innocentpeople. These traits do not portray a simple victim ofcircumstance, but a habitual criminal acting out against asociety. While Bigger dominates the story, his appalling actionsmake him a man that the reader can not look upon as a hero. Infact the author punishes the anti-hero character by condemning himto death for his crimes. One of the two most sympathetic characterizations of white personsin the novel comes from the character of Jan Erlone, Mary Daltonsfriend. He exhibits an enthusiastic personality and represents anidealistic young organizer for the Communist party. Marysparents and their servant Peggy distrust his motives. Biggerinitially expresses a distaste for reds when responding to Jansfriendly advances during their first meeting. While receivingdistrust from those around him, Jan retains a simple belief in theequality for all men, regardless of social class or race. Throughout Jans first meeting with Bigger, he regards Bigger withthe utmost respect. During the course of the night, Jan sits inthe front of the car with Bigger, eats with him, drinks with him,and speaks to him as an equal. Those actions of equality portraymore than a decent man, it shows that Jans character possesses astrong sense of morality and honesty. Jan is also characterizedby other heroic traits, forgiveness and understanding. As aninteresting twist of fate, Jan gets Bigger an attorney, anddemonstrates that he could forgive Bigger for implicating him forMarys kidnapping. The Battle With Grendels Mother EssayThemesFrustration and hopelessness develop as major themes of thestory. When Bigger and his friend Gus watch a sky writing plane,Bigger expresses frustration in his statement I could fly one ofthem things if I had a chance. Discussing the impossibility ofaccomplishment in the white-controlled world, Bigger expresseshopelessness, saying, They dont let us do nothing. When Gusreminds Bigger that they have always known this, Bigger agrees,but insists that he cannot accustom himself to it. Every time Ithink about it, he says, I feel like somebodys poking a red-hotiron down my throat. Today a good example of the same type offrustration can be seen on the various music videos done by blackartists. These video portray, poor education and a lack ofopportunities afforded to blacks. Oppression, hate, and the separatism between whites and blacksalso arises as a main theme. Bigger represents the oppressed butrebellious black, in contrast the Daltons represent naive whites,and Jan and Max represent the oppressed communists. These variouscharacters hate each other without comprehend the underlyingsocial cause. Only the oppressed groups come to help and forgiveeach other by the end of the novel, while the oppressors stillasking for bitter vengeance. The separatism become obvious whileBigger when sits in the car with Mary and Jan. He feels afraidand uncomfortable being treated like an equal and being allowed tosit near them. This separatism also made his oppressors blindlyignorant of the realities of social oppression. Separatismaffects both sides of the color line. The characters considereach other as separate entities, never interacting on an equalbasis. Social ignorance allows the scapegoating of Bigger, tovent the anger and rage built up from by many years of tens ionbetween the races. A good example of separatism and oppression inour area shows up in the conflicts between Whites and Cubans. Arguments about English as the official language as the officiallanguage of the US represent the manifestations of this conflict. A notable theme that the author portrays through Biggers actionscome from the true meaning of freedom to the oppressed. Biggersdiscovered freedom came to him in two instances, in both caseswhile committing murder. With the death of Mary Dalton, Biggerstarts to realize that for the first time he has gone against thelaw. Breaking the proverbial barrier and the proper limits ofwhat a black man can do in society he is no longer controlled orrestrained by another mans rules. This idea expands to note thatwhen Bigger himself defines the rules, he makes himself free. Interestingly serial killers in our society have multiplied, acommon trait that they all possess is abuse in their earlylifetime. Perhaps they act out of the same misguided need forfreedom that Bigger found when committing murder. Authors BeliefsBigger, his family, and Bessie all feel the affects of separatismand oppression. Richard Wright believes in the immorality ofoppression. He uses his book as a tool to vent his frustration,at the world that segregates negros. His characters, themes andconflicts probably originate from his own experience ofseparatism. By using such a wide range of characters, he givesthe readers who are not black an insight into the horrificallydesperate situations many poor blacks experience. Biggers actions toward Jan and Mary portray his resignation tothe social inequity of the color barrier. He acts simply, as asubservient yessah. It appears the author believes the truewall of separation between whites and blacks is an almostimpassable division. Jan and Max base their decisions on the equality of man. Having amoral basis for action leads them to have a means to deal withoppression and the ability to hope. In contrast, Bigger acceptsseparatism as an immutable condition, and rebels against it bycommitting crimes. Bigger receives punishment for his actions. The author would appears to support socialist concepts as theproper rebellion against oppression. He seems to believe in theequality of men and the value of demonstrating it in everydayactions.