Syntax of Kindergarten and Elementary School Children: A Transformational Analysis.

Abstract

This investigation sought to learn about the oral and written language behavior of students from kindergarten age through grade 7, and to determine the validity of different analytic techniques for measuring children's development in ccntrol of syntax. Language samples were collected from 180 children (grades K-3, 5, and 7) by having the children view two silently-run cartoons, and then narrate and answer questions about the film in a recorded interview. Third-, fifth-, and seventh-graders were also asked to write the stories and answers. The typescripts of the responses were analyzed using Hunt's T-units. Principal conclusions were: (1) as grade level increased, so did the word length of total responses to a situation; (2) the most frequent significant increments from grade to grade were in the use of particular complex constructions; (3) deletion transformations may indicate students' growth in manipulating syntax better than subordinate clauses; (4) oral expression appeared to progress most rapidly between kindergarten and the end of first grade, and between the ends of the fifth and seventh grades; (5) in the higher grades, written development in control of syntax surpassed spoken development. (This document previously announced as ED 017 508.) (MM) U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION DOCUMI N7 HAS BEEN REPRO DUCED EX ACTIV AS RECEIVED FROM I E PERSON On ORGANIIA NON ORR; sNATING V1 POINTS Or VII IA OR OPIN IONS STATED DO NOT NE CESSARive RI. PRES' NT 011R:1AL OFFICE (); IOU CATION POSITION OfT SYNTAX OF KINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN: A TRANSFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS ROY C. O'DONNVI.,1 WILLIANI J. GRIFFIN, AND RAYMOND C. NORRIS George Peabody College fur Teachers NCTE Research Report No.8 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH 508 South Si:tth street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH Committee on Publications James 11. Squire, NCTE Executive Secretary, Chairman Robert M. Correll, University of Nevada Walter J. Moore, University of Illinois Frank E. Ross, Eastern Michigan University Enid M. Olson, NCTE Director of Publications

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