The Verbal Games of Pre-school Children

Description

Originally published in 1980 The Verbal Games of Pre-school Children states that in the course of acquiring language, every child recognizes that verbal interaction is a powerful tool which can be used to interpret and manipulate the world. During the last previous two decades developments in the study of both language acquisition and linguistic theory had begun to illustrate that the acquisition of a first language involves considerably more than the mere learning of grammatical structure. This view of learning had led researchers gradually to see children as more than grammarians devising grammatical constructs. The tendency at the time was to see the child as an active partner in what are essentially games of communication and invention during which the rules of usage as well as the rules of grammar are discovered. This study is based on extensive and detailed observation of the verbal interaction of two pre-school children, and as such offers far-reaching ideas and conclusions concerning the manner in which all children determine the role of language in their lives, whilst simultaneously learning how to piece it together. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Original Title Page Original Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Tables List of Examples List of Examples in Chronological Order Prologue Preface 1. Introduction 1.1 linguistic Theory and Theories of Acquisition 1.2 Theory and Method 2. Collection and Analysis of Data 2.1 Data Collection 2.1.1 Transcription 2.1.2 Evaluation of Data Collection Method 2.2 Suzy and Nani’s Language 2.3 Analysis of the Data 3. Short Routines 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Repetition and Imitation 4. Correction Activities 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Correction of Pronunciation 4.2.1 Articulatory Alternatives 4.2.2 Resolving Miscommunication 4.3 Syntactic Correction Activities 4.4 Lexical Correction Activities 4.4.1 Word Associations 4.4.2 Idiosyncratic Use of Words 4.4.3 Semantic Features 5. Antonym Games 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Development of Antonym Games 6. The You Say Routine 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Development of the You Say Routine 6.2.1 The First Two Examples 6.2.2 Additional Uses 6.2.3 The Name Game 6.3 Final Analysis of the You Say Routine 7. The Hiding Game 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Structure 7.3 Extensions 7.3.1 Expansions 7.3.2 Innovations 8. Conclusions Epilogue Appendices Appendix A: Tables of Contrasting Words and Phrases (a) Key to Tables Appendix B: Analyses of Complete Sessions (a) Analysis of Session of 12 June a.m. (b) Analysis of Session of 3 June p.m. Bibliography Index