LNG 201/ENGL 202
Prof. G. Steinberg
Language Acquisition
The following two transcriptions are from conversations between the same mother and child, the first (1) when the child was 24 months, and the second (2) three months later. Can you describe some of the changes which appear to have taken place in the child's ability to use language during that period?
| (1) | (2) | ||
| Eve: | Have that? | M: | Come and sit over here. |
| M: | No, you may not have it. | Eve: | You can sit down by me. That will make me happy. Ready to turn it. |
| Eve: | Mom, where my tapioca? | M: | We're not quite ready to turn the page. |
| M: | It's getting cool. You'll have it in just a minute. | Eve: | Yep, we are. |
| Eve: | Let me have it. | M: | Shut the door; we won't hear her then. |
| M: | Would you like to have your lunch right now? | Eve: | Then Fraser won't hear her too. Where he's going? Did you make a great big hole there? |
| Eve: | Yeah. My tapioca cool? | M: | Yes, we made a great big hole in here; we have to get a new one. |
| M: | Yes, it's cool. | Eve: | Could I get some other piece of paper? |
| Eve: | You gonna watch me eat my lunch? | ||
| M: | Yeah, I'm gonna watch you eat your lunch. | ||
| Eve: | I eating it. | ||
| M: | I know you are. |
Click here to go to the course syllabus.