According to research on the development of Brown's morphemes, which is a determinant of acquisition order?

According to research on the development of Brown's morphemes, which is a determinant of acquisition order?

• A. Phonological ease of production
• B. Figurative-language ability
• C. Semantic and syntactic complexity
• D. Sequencing and segmentation strategies

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is based on the understanding that the acquisition of Brown's morphemes is influenced significantly by semantic and syntactic complexity. As children develop their language skills, they tend to learn morphemes that represent simpler and more concrete meanings before moving on to those that are more abstract and complex. This progression follows a natural pattern in which children typically grasp grammatical structures that are less demanding both semantically and syntactically earlier than those that require more sophisticated language processing. For instance, morphemes that signify pluralization or possession have clearer, more direct meanings and are often easier for children to conceptualize and use in sentences than those that might convey more intricate grammatical nuances, such as perfective aspects or more complex tense markers. Thus, understanding how meaning and sentence structure influence the order in which children acquire these morphemes plays a crucial role in the study of language development. Other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not primarily drive the order of morpheme acquisition. Phonological ease of production could influence general speech development but isn’t the main factor for morphemes. Figurative-language ability typically develops later and is not directly tied to the early acquisition of basic morphemes. Sequencing and segmentation strategies are important

The correct answer is based on the understanding that the acquisition of Brown's morphemes is influenced significantly by semantic and syntactic complexity. As children develop their language skills, they tend to learn morphemes that represent simpler and more concrete meanings before moving on to those that are more abstract and complex. This progression follows a natural pattern in which children typically grasp grammatical structures that are less demanding both semantically and syntactically earlier than those that require more sophisticated language processing.

For instance, morphemes that signify pluralization or possession have clearer, more direct meanings and are often easier for children to conceptualize and use in sentences than those that might convey more intricate grammatical nuances, such as perfective aspects or more complex tense markers. Thus, understanding how meaning and sentence structure influence the order in which children acquire these morphemes plays a crucial role in the study of language development.

Other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not primarily drive the order of morpheme acquisition. Phonological ease of production could influence general speech development but isn’t the main factor for morphemes. Figurative-language ability typically develops later and is not directly tied to the early acquisition of basic morphemes. Sequencing and segmentation strategies are important