Are Generics Defaults? A Study on the Interpretation of Generics and Universals in 3 Age-Groups of Spanish-Speaking Individuals

This paper reports an experiment that investigates interpretive distinctions between two different expressions of generalization in Spanish. In particular, our aim was to find out when the distinction generic statements (GS) such as Tigers have stripes and universally quantified (UQS) All tigers acquired Spanish-speaking children age groups (4/5-year-olds 8/9-year-olds), then compare these results with those adults. The starting point this research semantic GS UQS former admit exceptions, unlike latter. On other hand, several authors observed a Generic overgeneralization effect (GOG) consisting allowing for be felicitous face thus proposing “error” stems from being defaults (simpler, more easily learned processed). current we aimed test “Generics Default” (GaD) hypothesis by comparing three ranges. Our data show that, overall, accuracy is greater than UQS. Moreover, also confirm hypothesized interaction NP type (GS vs UQS). Further, present points are not predicted GaD, including decline older group well adults, fail at rejecting considered true generalizations.