ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that mimetics are creatively produced even without any direct evidence given from parents, and they can be ambiguous just like other expressions in natural language. It shows that some of the innovative mimetic verbs extensively used by Japanese-speaking children are Root Infinitive Analogues–non-finite verbs used in a root clause. The chapter also argues that children are innately equipped with a Mimetic Creation Device, whereby mental processes lead them to make their own mimetic expressions. It also shows that mimetic words have the same semantic properties as non-mimetic words. Natsuko Tsujimura also notes that Japanese-speaking children produce many mimetic verbs and discusses the similarity between the child mimetic verbs and innovative verbs such as sutabaru in adult Japanese. Although the linguistic data available to children is relatively limited, Japanese-speaking children produce a lot of mimetics in spontaneous speech.
