On Lexicalization Pattern of Caused Motion Events by Chinese Children

Abstract

The lexicalization of Chinese motion events has been a controversial topic. Most of previous studies on the lexicalization patterns of Chinese movement events has been conducted with laboratory experiments, leaving the natural Chinese motion events in daily life unstudied. Therefore, this paper investigates the language acquisition process of Chinese children resulting in movement events based on naturalistic data of language development from 13 to 48 months in Mandarin-speaking children SWK, which greatly reduces the influence of human factors on the findings. The results showed that 1) path verbs developed slightly faster than manner verbs at all times. Besides, both kinds of verbs develop fastest at the age of 2-3 years, and peak at the age of 3 years. 2) Modern Chinese exhibits the characteristics of a satellite-framed language in some aspects. 3) Caused motion events develop slower than voluntary motion events.