Quantifier-Spreading in Korean Children and Adults: Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study

This study examined how Korean-speaking children and adults interpret universally quantified sentences and explored the mechanisms behind quantifier-spreading (Q-spreading) errors. Using an eye-tracking sentence–picture verification task, the research involved 57 preschoolers (aged 5–6) and 97 adults across various visual contexts. The accuracy results indicated that children frequently made Q-spreading errors, particularly in visually complex scenes, while adults performed almost perfectly. Eye-movement data showed that children’s errors were associated with increased fixations on visually salient but truth-conditionally irrelevant objects. This suggests that Q-spreading is driven by attentional competition and limited inhibitory control, rather than a lack of semantic knowledge. These findings support processing-based theories that highlight the importance of executive control and pragmatic reasoning in resolving referential ambiguity. Additionally, the results imply that acquiring universal quantification involves not only semantic comprehension but also the gradual integration of linguistic, cognitive, and pragmatic processes. By demonstrating that gaze allocation serves as a real-time indicator of quantifier integration, this study underscores the methodological significance of eye-tracking in investigating the relationship between language and cognition. Overall, Q-spreading errors represent an intermediate stage in the development of linguistic and cognitive integration.