Vorwärtsbias

Vorwärtsbias refers to a phenomenon in the study of language acquisition and processing. It describes the tendency for learners or users of a language to favor the production or understanding of forms that are more regular or common, even when irregular or less common forms are grammatically correct or contextually appropriate. This bias can manifest in several ways. For instance, in morphology, learners might overgeneralize a regular plural ending to an irregular noun, saying "gooses" instead of "geese." Similarly, in syntax, they might apply a common sentence structure to a situation where a less frequent but valid structure would be more natural.

This tendency is not necessarily a sign of error but rather a reflection of how the human brain processes and learns patterns. By focusing on the most frequent and regular forms, individuals can build a robust understanding of the language's core structure. As proficiency increases, learners typically begin to acquire and utilize the exceptions and irregularities. Vorwärtsbias is a concept explored in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and second language acquisition research, helping to explain developmental trajectories in language learning and the cognitive mechanisms underlying language use. It highlights the interplay between rule-based learning and the acquisition of exceptions.