Expressing Negation During the Multiword Stage of Language Development

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Published: Jun 30, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20616289
Keywords:
negation acquisition, child language acquisition, early language development, overgeneralization

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Meryem ÇALIŞKAN
Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3127-6494

Abstract

The acquisition of negation holds significant importance in early language development, shaping children's linguistic and cognitive development. This study explores the milestones regarding the acquisition of negation during the early stages of language development. By examining relevant research from linguistic studies and child language acquisition literature, the progression from single negative words to more complicated multiword expressions was clarified. The study uses purposively selected CHILDES and TalkBank data from children aged 2;0–3;6. The study highlights common errors and overgeneralization tendencies that children encounter as they master negation structures. The findings also emphasise the role of systematic error patterns in revealing children’s developing grammatical knowledge during this stage. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the understanding of language acquisition processes and their implications for early language development.

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How to Cite
ÇALIŞKAN, M. (2026). Expressing Negation During the Multiword Stage of Language Development. OMNIALANG: International Journal of Language Continuum, 1(1), 74–86. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20616289
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
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Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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