Rachel Schiff Bar-Ilan University, Israel Dorit Ravid Tel Aviv University, Israel

11

Rachel SchiffBar-Ilan University, Israel

Dorit RavidTel Aviv University, Israel

Rachel SchiffBar-Ilan University, Israel

Dorit RavidTel Aviv University, Israel

White elephants vs. white walls: Conflicting cues in learning to

mark plural adjectives in Hebrew

22

AimsAims

• To examine lexical and morphological development in Hebrew-speaking children from two SES backgrounds

• To examine lexical and morphological development in Hebrew-speaking children from two SES backgrounds

33

OrOr

How to produce white elephants?How to produce white elephants?

44

Noun-Adjective agreement in the Hebrew noun phraseNoun-Adjective agreement in the Hebrew noun phrase

pil lavan

elephant white

pila levana

elephant,Fm white,Fm

pil lavan

elephant white

pila levana

elephant,Fm white,Fm

Adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number

55

Noun-Adjective agreement in the Hebrew noun phraseNoun-Adjective agreement in the Hebrew noun phrase

pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

pilot levanot

elephants,Fm white,Pl,Fm

pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

pilot levanot


Adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number

66

TaskTask

• Given a singular noun phrase consisting of a noun and an adjective, produce the plural noun phrase, that is, the plural noun and the plural adjective

• Oral, individual administration

• Measures: Accuracy and Latency

• Given a singular noun phrase consisting of a noun and an adjective, produce the plural noun phrase, that is, the plural noun and the plural adjective

• Oral, individual administration

• Measures: Accuracy and Latency

77

360 Participants360 Participants

• 180 children from middle-high SES

• 180 children from low SES

• 180 children from middle-high SES

• 180 children from low SES

88

SESBerliner, 2005; Chiu & McBride-Chang, 2006

SESBerliner, 2005; Chiu & McBride-Chang, 2006

• A multidimensional concept that captures family capital – Financial capital (monetary and material

resources)– Human capital (educational and cultural

resources)– Social capital (social connections linked with

career and the like) – Problem with linguistic and other input?

• A multidimensional concept that captures family capital – Financial capital (monetary and material

resources)– Human capital (educational and cultural

resources)– Social capital (social connections linked with

career and the like) – Problem with linguistic and other input?

99

Grade / Age Mid-hi SES Low SES

G1 6-7 30 30

G2 7-8 30 30

G3 8-9 30 30

G4 9-10 30 30

G5 10-11 30 30

G6 11-12 30 30

1010

First step: Noun pluralizationFirst step: Noun pluralization

• Plural suffixes on nouns follow singular noun phonology

• Plural suffixes on nouns follow singular noun phonology

1111

Noun plurals: FeminineNoun plurals: Feminine

• Nouns ending in -a or -t are feminine, and take –ot in plural

pila pilotelephant,Fm elephants,Fm

karit kariyot(throw) pillow,Fm pillows,Fm

• Nouns ending in -a or -t are feminine, and take –ot in plural

pila pilotelephant,Fm elephants,Fm

karit kariyot(throw) pillow,Fm pillows,Fm

1212

Noun plurals: MasculineNoun plurals: Masculine

• Nouns ending in consonants (other than –t) are masculine, and take –im in plural

pil pilimelephant elephants

kar karimpillow pillows

• Nouns ending in consonants (other than –t) are masculine, and take –im in plural

pil pilimelephant elephants

kar karimpillow pillows

1313

Problem # 1Irregular plural suffixes

masculine nouns


masculine nouns

– pil pilimelephant elephants,

Masc

However

– kir kirot wall walls, Masc

– pil pilimelephant elephants,

Masc

However

– kir kirot wall walls, Masc

1414


feminine nouns


feminine nouns– pila pilotelephant,Fm elephants,Fm

However

– beytsa beytsimegg,Fm eggs, Fm

– pila pilotelephant,Fm elephants,Fm

However

– beytsa beytsimegg,Fm eggs, Fm

1515

Noun problem #1: Noun suffixNoun problem #1: Noun suffix

• Prediction: irregular noun plural suffixes constitute (more of) a problem for younger children, and for children from low SES

• Lexical (and morpho-phonological) knowledge

Ravid, 1995; Ravid & Schiff in press, Linguistics; Ravid et al, in press

• Prediction: irregular noun plural suffixes constitute (more of) a problem for younger children, and for children from low SES

• Lexical (and morpho-phonological) knowledge

Ravid, 1995; Ravid & Schiff in press, Linguistics; Ravid et al, in press

1616

Noun stemNoun stem

• Stems may stay unchanged when inflected

• tik tikim

bag bags

• sira sirot

boat boats

• Stems may stay unchanged when inflected

• tik tikim

bag bags

• sira sirot

boat boats

1717

Noun problem #2: Noun stemNoun problem #2: Noun stem

• But stems may also undergo change when inflected

• ish anashim

man men

• simla smalot

dress dresses

• But stems may also undergo change when inflected

• ish anashim

man men

• simla smalot

dress dresses

1818

Combine problems #1 and #2 Combine problems #1 and #2

• Changing stems with irregular suffixes

• lev levavot

heart,masc hearts

• Masculine stem with feminine suffix

• Changing stem

• Changing stems with irregular suffixes

• lev levavot

heart,masc hearts

• Masculine stem with feminine suffix

• Changing stem

1919

Task structure: 32 N-A pairsTask structure: 32 N-A pairs

8 N-A pairs

Nouns with non-changing stems and

regular suffixes

8 N-A pairs

Nouns with non-changing stems and

irregular suffixes

8 N-A pairs

Nouns with changing stems and regular

suffixes

8 N-A pairs

Nouns with changing stems and irregular

suffixes

2020

Noun plurals in development: Accuracy

Noun plurals in development: Accuracy

The role of suffix regularity and stem change

The role of suffix regularity and stem change

2121

Accuracy on noun plurals Gradeschool children from two SES


40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6

Non-changing stem, regular suffix

Non-changing stem, irregular suffix

Changing stem, regular suffix

Changing stem, irregular suffix

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6



Changing stem, regular suffixChanging stem, irregular suffix

Low SES High SES

2222



• The same factors in the same order affect acquisition

• However low SES children achieve lower scores, the difference between noun categories is larger, and the learning curve is slower

• Indicating problems in lexical representation and organization


• However low SES children achieve lower scores, the difference between noun categories is larger, and the learning curve is slower

• Indicating problems in lexical representation and organization

2323

Problem #3: Plural adjective agreement


pilim levan-?

elephants white

pilim levan-?

elephants white

2424



pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

2525



pilot levan-?

elephants,Fm white

pilot levan-?

elephants,Fm white

2626



pilot levanot


pilot levanot


2727

Plural adjective agreementPlural adjective agreement

• However, when noun suffix is irregular, there is a clash between surface noun phonology and inherent noun gender

• However, when noun suffix is irregular, there is a clash between surface noun phonology and inherent noun gender

2828

Problem: Adjective agreement with irregular plural noun suffixes

Problem: Adjective agreement with irregular plural noun suffixes

kir lavan ‘white,Masc wall,Masc’

kirot levan…???walls white


kirot levan…???walls white

2929

Agreement with irregular noun pluralsPhonology or inherent gender?

Agreement with irregular noun pluralsPhonology or inherent gender?

1. Follow plural noun phonology

kirot levanot

walls white,Pl,Fm

This is wrong!


kirot levanot

walls white,Pl,Fm

This is wrong!

3030

Agreement with irregular noun plurals Phonology or inherent gender?


2. Follow singular noun gender


kirot levanimwalls white,Pl

Online processing abilities

2. Follow singular noun gender


kirot levanimwalls white,Pl


3131




beytsim levanim

eggs white,Pl

This is wrong!


beytsim levanim

eggs white,Pl

This is wrong!

3232



2. Follow singular noun genderbeytsa levana ‘white,Fm egg,Fm’

beytsim levanoteggs white,Pl,Fm


2. Follow singular noun genderbeytsa levana ‘white,Fm egg,Fm’

beytsim levanoteggs white,Pl,Fm


3333

Problem #3: Plural adjective suffixas a function of suffix regularity and stem change

Problem #3: Plural adjective suffixas a function of suffix regularity and stem change

• Clash between phonology and grammar will result in less accuracy and increased reaction time in producing plural adjective agreement

• Especially in combination with changing stems

• Most for younger children, and children from low SES

• Clash between phonology and grammar will result in less accuracy and increased reaction time in producing plural adjective agreement

• Especially in combination with changing stems

• Most for younger children, and children from low SES

3434

Accuracy on plural adjective agreement


The role of noun suffix regularity and stem

change


change

3535


Gradeschool children from two SES



40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





Low SES High SES

3636




Gradeschool children from two SES• The same factors in the same order affect

acquisition• However low SES children achieve lower

scores, the difference between categories of noun suffixes is larger

• No progress on learning to mark adjective agreement to plural nouns with irregular suffixes

• Problems with processing grammatical information?


• However low SES children achieve lower scores, the difference between categories of noun suffixes is larger

• No progress on learning to mark adjective agreement to plural nouns with irregular suffixes

• Problems with processing grammatical information?

3737

Reaction time on forming a plural NP

Reaction time on forming a plural NP


change


change

3838

Gradeschool children from two SES RT on plural NP formation


600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





Low SES High SES

3939

Conclusions: AdjectivesConclusions: Adjectives

• Adjectives constitute a non-robust category in language acquisition and processing

• Inflecting adjectives to agree with plural nouns requires the ability to overcome clash between grammatical knowledge and phonological awareness

• Adjectives constitute a non-robust category in language acquisition and processing

• Inflecting adjectives to agree with plural nouns requires the ability to overcome clash between grammatical knowledge and phonological awareness

4040

Conclusions: DevelopmentConclusions: Development

• Noun plurals: Lexical and morphophonological knowledge– Suffix assignment– Stem change

• Adjective agreement: generalization, processing

A long developmental route, though inflection

• Noun plurals: Lexical and morphophonological knowledge– Suffix assignment– Stem change

• Adjective agreement: generalization, processing

A long developmental route, though inflection

4141

Conclusions: SESConclusions: SES

• Our results point to differences in language processing abilities between children from different SES

• Our results point to differences in language processing abilities between children from different SES

4242

תוספות רק אם צריךתוספות רק אם צריך

4343

Accuracy on noun pluralsDevelopmental pattern in K-adults mid-high SES

Accuracy on noun pluralsDevelopmental pattern in K-adults mid-high SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

K G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 Ads





4444

Accuracy on plural adjective agreement Developmental pattern in K-adults frommid-hi SES

Accuracy on plural adjective agreement Developmental pattern in K-adults frommid-hi SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100






4545

Developmental pattern in K-adults RT on plural NP formation

Developmental pattern in K-adults RT on plural NP formation

600800

10001200140016001800200022002400






4646

Accuracy on noun plurals Gradeschool children,middle-hi SES

Accuracy on noun plurals Gradeschool children,middle-hi SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





4747

Accuracy on noun plurals Gradeschool children, low SES

Accuracy on noun plurals Gradeschool children, low SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6



Changing stem, regular suffixChanging stem, irregular suffix

4848

Accuracy on plural adjective agreement Gradeschool children from middle-hi SESAccuracy on plural adjective agreement

Gradeschool children from middle-hi SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





4949


Children from low SES


Children from low SES

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





5050

Gradeschool children from middle-hi SES RT on plural NP formation

Gradeschool children from middle-hi SES RT on plural NP formation

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





5151

Gradeschool children from low SES RT on plural NP formation

Gradeschool children from low SES RT on plural NP formation

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6





5252

Gradeschool children from two SES RT on plural NP formation by suffix type

Gradeschool children from two SES RT on plural NP formation by suffix type

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6

Regular Suffix High SES

Regular Suffix Low SES

Irregular Suffix High SES

Irregular Suffix Low SES

5353



• Mid-hi SES children: decrease in RT in all noun categories, with convergence in 5th grade

• Low SES children– Very gradual or no decrease by G3, then no

change– Changing stems with irregular suffixes –

hardly any decrease

• Mid-hi SES children: decrease in RT in all noun categories, with convergence in 5th grade

• Low SES children– Very gradual or no decrease by G3, then no

change– Changing stems with irregular suffixes –

hardly any decrease

5454

Learning to inflect noun pluralsLearning to inflect noun plurals

• Gradual increase in hi SES participants from K to adulthood – except for nonchanging stems with regular suffixes, which are at ceiling by K

• Order of difficulty: Nonchanging stems with regular suffixes > changing stems with regular suffixes > Nonchanging stems with irregular suffixes > changing stems with irregular suffixes

• Same pattern in both populations, but different pace of acquisition

• Gradual increase in hi SES participants from K to adulthood – except for nonchanging stems with regular suffixes, which are at ceiling by K

• Order of difficulty: Nonchanging stems with regular suffixes > changing stems with regular suffixes > Nonchanging stems with irregular suffixes > changing stems with irregular suffixes

• Same pattern in both populations, but different pace of acquisition

5555

Learning to mark agreement on plural adjectives

Learning to mark agreement on plural adjectives

• No difference between changing and nonchanging stems in adjectives agreeing with nouns with regular suffixes

• Better scores on nonchanging stems in in adjectives agreeing with nouns with irregular suffixes

• No apparent progress in children from low SES on adjectives agreeing with nouns with irregular suffixes

• No difference between changing and nonchanging stems in adjectives agreeing with nouns with regular suffixes

• Better scores on nonchanging stems in in adjectives agreeing with nouns with irregular suffixes

• No apparent progress in children from low SES on adjectives agreeing with nouns with irregular suffixes

5656

RT on inflecting plural N-A phrasesRT on inflecting plural N-A phrases

• Hardest / longest: adjective agreement to plural nouns with changing stems and irregular suffixes

• Easiest / shortest: adjective agreement to plural nouns with nonchanging stems and regular suffixes

• Low SES children show a mixed picture with little or no decrease in RT

• Hardest / longest: adjective agreement to plural nouns with changing stems and irregular suffixes

• Easiest / shortest: adjective agreement to plural nouns with nonchanging stems and regular suffixes

• Low SES children show a mixed picture with little or no decrease in RT

5757

ExamplesExamples

• pil lavan ‘white elephant’

pilim levanim ‘white elephants’

• pila levana ‘white elephant, Fm’

pilot levanot ‘white elephants,Fm’

• pil lavan ‘white elephant’

pilim levanim ‘white elephants’

• pila levana ‘white elephant, Fm’

pilot levanot ‘white elephants,Fm’

5858

Problem #3: Plural adjective suffixProblem #3: Plural adjective suffix

• Adjectives follow inherent noun gender• No problem when noun suffix is regular

pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

pilot levanot


• Adjectives follow inherent noun gender• No problem when noun suffix is regular

pilim levanim

elephants white,Pl

pilot levanot


5959


• However, when noun suffix is irregular, there is a clash between noun phonology and noun gender

• However, when noun suffix is irregular, there is a clash between noun phonology and noun gender

6060


kir lavan ‘white wall,masc’

kirot levanimwalls, Masc white, Masc

Once inflected, noun phonology says Feminine, noun gender says Masculine

Problem: How to inflect adjective?

kir lavan ‘white wall,masc’

kirot levanimwalls, Masc white, Masc

Once inflected, noun phonology says Feminine, noun gender says Masculine


6161


beytsa levana ‘white egg,fm’

beytsim levanoteggs, Fm white, Fm

When inflected, noun phonology says Masculine, noun gender says Feminine


beytsa levana ‘white egg,fm’

beytsim levanoteggs, Fm white, Fm

When inflected, noun phonology says Masculine, noun gender says Feminine


Documents

Rachel Schiff Bar-Ilan University, Israel Dorit Ravid Tel Aviv University, Israel