Children's communicative strategies in novel and familiar word situations
Date
2006-10
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SAGE : First Language
Abstract
The present studies investigated 3-year-olds’ ability to adapt their communication based on their parents’ knowledge state when requesting familiar and novel objects. Children participated in a toy retrieval game during which their parent was present or absent during toy introductions. In Study 1, children used more specific requests and cue combinations in the parent-absent group versus parent- present group when requesting familiar labelled objects. In Study 2, a similar game was administered with adaptations to reduce cognitive demands. Children produced more specific requests in the parent-absent group compared with the parent-present group when requesting an unlabelled novel object. The results indicate that three-year-olds have an emergent ability to adapt their communicative behaviours based on their parents’ knowledge state.
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Citation
Nayer, S. L., & Graham, S. A. (2006). Children's communicative strategies in novel and familiar word situations. "First Language". 2006: 26(4). pp. 403-420. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0142723706064834