The goal of this study was to investigate which working memory and long-term memory components predict vocabulary learning. We used a nonword learning paradigm in which 8- to 10-year-olds learned picture-nonword pairs. The nonwords varied in length (two vs. four syllables) and phonology (native sounding vs. including one Russian phoneme). Short,…

Ten boys and 10 girls ages 29-35 months, were tested individually on a memory task requiring free recall of two-item lists. No sex differences in response were noted. The mean number of correct responses and the mean number of correct pairs were higher for related items, and, in addition, the children frequently reported the last object they saw…

Contrary to the basic-level restraint hypothesis, which suggests that young children learn basic-level words more easily than specific-level words, these five studies show that although other constraints on word meaning may be in place, children are flexible in interpreting new words at different hierarchical levels. (MDM)