On the Acquisition of Verb Morphology in Dutch Speaking Children

Van Besien, F.; Moerman-Coetsier, L.

doi:10.1075/itl.71.02van

Article published In: ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 71 (1986) ► pp.19–41

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On the Acquisition of Verb Morphology in Dutch Speaking Children

F. Van Besien | Vlaamse Economische Hogeschool, Brussel

L. Moerman-Coetsier | Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Paramedische Beroepen, afd. Logopedie, Gent

Published online: 1 January 1986

https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.71.02van

The article discusses the results of a longitudinal study with 72 children who were subjected to a morphology test at the start of their first year of elementary school (age 6-7 years) and were retested with the same test one year later. The test consists of pictures and stimulus sentences to be completed by either a preterite or a past participle. The results show that, although the number of correct responses increases significantly from the first to the second year, verb morphology has not yet been fully acquired at the age of 8. The incorrect responses show that over-generalization of regular forms is not the only strategy followed by the children. Finally, a developmental chart for the acquisition of Dutch preterite and past participle is presented.

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