In which phase does a child use a known word to describe a new object until corrected?

The assimilation phase is characterized by a child using an existing word they already know to label something unfamiliar. This process demonstrates how children relate new information to their existing understanding of the world. For instance, if a child knows the word "dog" and encounters a new animal, they may call that animal "dog" until they receive clarification or correction about the actual name of the new animal. This illustrates the child's attempt to integrate new experiences into their existing cognitive framework.

In contrast, the other phases like accommodation involve the modification of existing cognitive structures to facilitate the understanding of new information, while equilibrium pertains to finding balance between assimilation and accommodation. The Input Hypothesis focuses on how language learners acquire language by understanding input that is slightly above their current proficiency level. Therefore, the assimilation phase is the correct context for this scenario, as it explicitly involves the use of known words to label new objects until corrective feedback is provided.