Early social games and the acquisition of language

Abstract

The aim of this study was twofold: ( a ) to analyse developmental changes in the social games played by mothers and children during normal home activities; ( b ) to examine how mother's linguistic production during game episodes could be related to the child's pattern of language acquisition. Three mother‐child dyads were followed longitudinally for a 12‐month period starting when the children were 6 months old. Thirty‐minute observation sessions were carried out one in 20 days on average during a free‐play situation in the family environment. Videotapes were segmented into interaction episodes defined as games, and a distinction was made between conventional and non‐conventional games. Results were analysed in terms of both developmental changes and individual differences in characteristics of play behaviour. In all dyads, conventional games increased in significant linear fashion between 6 and 12 months of age and children became increasingly able to play an active role in them. The three dyads also showed consistent differences in some aspects of play behaviour as well as in mothers' style of linguistic production during game episodes and in children's rate of language acquisition. The role of early conventional games in assisting the child's transition to language is discussed.

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