A series of experiments revealed that noun-category bias in children's word learning is present as early as two years of age. Findings indicate that, when children interpret the meaning of novel nouns, they do not sample randomly from the range of possible meanings but focus instead on category relations. (RH)

Examines how reference points for the categorical interpretation of high and low (adjectives) were defined by three- to five-year-old children and adults. Shows categorical interpretations of relative terms to be complex dependent. (HOD)

Examined preschoolers' ability to map novel adjectives to object properties in two experiments. Found that 4-year-olds could extend novel adjectives from target to matching test object whether objects were drawn from same, or different, basic level categories. If 3-year-olds' first extended a novel adjective to objects in the same basic level…