Category specificity in the naming of natural and man-made objects: Normative data from adults and children

Abstract

Abstract Normative data on naming ability are described for sets of category items which are matched and graded in difficulty. The results are based on a test comprising two animate categories (“animals” and “fruit and vegetables”) and two sets of man-made objects (with or without an associated action). Little evidence was found to show cultural or experiential variation in category bias with the exception that women are better than men at naming “fruit and vegetables” and men are better than women at naming “animals”. Naming ability of adults was significantly different across the categories, and in children a developmental advantage was found in naming the animate categories, and animals in particular. These discontinuities between the categories give further support to the notion of autonomous knowledge bases for natural and man-made objects.