The Development of Idiomatic Meaning in Children

Abstract

This study examined the development of idiomatic expression. Sixty subjects were presented with a series of drawings corresponding to sentences exhibiting dual semantic representation (i.e., a literal and an idiomatic component). A literalization strategy appeared to be operating between the ages of 6 and 9 years and an idiomatization strategy predominated from the age of 9 through adulthood. Comprehension of idiomatic meaning appeared to develop prior to the ability to verbally interpret idioms.