Gender in Malayalam Language Acquisition

Dr. Sreeja T D

Abstract: This study investigates the pattern of gender acquisition in the Malayalam language among children aged one to three. The research employs a descriptive and qualitative methodology within a developmental framework. The findings reveal that children begin identifying kinship terms from nine months, with overgeneralization observed in the early stages. By the age of three, children can use gender terms appropriately without conceptual errors.

Keywords: Language Acquisition, Gender, Malayalam, Kinship Terms, Overgeneralization