Erika Hoff-Ginsberg "Language Development"

What is a word?
A word is not just any set of sounds that communicates a meaning.
Words is a symbol.
Words are not simply arbitrary symbols.
The process of children’s lexical development is the process of learning the words in the target language and organizing them in the mental lexicon.
Lexical development
CHILDRENS:
may begin to recognize some words as early as 5 month of age.

truly understand word meaning around 10 months of age.

typically produce their first word around their first birthday.

from 15 to 24 months-achieve a productive vocabulary of 50 words

The third years of life are the most active word learning years.

Between 3 and 6 years of age ,children continue to learn how the lexicon
works, allowing them to create their own novel words.

Through the elementary school years ,the internal structure of children’s lexicons changes and becomes more adultlike.
Nelson classified the children’s words into six categories:
Specific nominals

General nominals

Action words

Modifiers

Personal social words

Function words.…