earticle

영어

This study examines the role of input frequency in the acquisition of Korean numeral classifiers in Korean preschool children, by focusing on developing comprehension ability. Previous studies have claimed that children start understanding numeral classifiers at a broader level and proceed to more specific subclasses, cross-linguistically. In this study, I tested the comprehension of 9 classifiers from different categories with children from 3 to 6. In addition, I analyzed the CHILD database to find out whether there is a substantial relation between the language input children receive and the acquisition orders of numeral classifiers. What the data indicated was that among three general classifiers, the animal classifier mali and the human classifier myeng were acquired earlier than the inanimate classifier kay. Among the tested six specific classifiers, the shape-specific classifiers cang and the functional classifiers day were acquired earlier than the shape-specific classifiers songi and calwu. Therefore, I claim that Korean children start understanding general classifiers earlier than specific classifiers, by supporting the constraint of the NCAH. I also claim that Korean children acquire specific classifiers based on the frequency of language input they receive.