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Language use, role and context in a five-year-old*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Margaret Martlew ,
Kevin Connolly  and
Christine McCleod
Margaret Martlew
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
Kevin Connolly
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
Christine McCleod
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
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Abstract

To explore the relationship of language use and speech adaptation to role and context the spontaneous speech of a boy aged 5; 6 was recorded in three different situations: playing alone, playing with a friend of the same age, and playing with his mother. Several analyses were made of the speech transcripts to examine the relationship between context and language use. The nature of play episodes was also investigated. The findings suggest that role play has an important function in the development of a child's ability to communicate effectively, and that a child's awareness of his own role and the expectations he has concerning social interactions lead to modification in language use.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 81 - 99
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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Footnotes

[*]

Address for correspondence: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Sio 2TN, England.

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