A longitudinal, observational study of selected syntactical and discourse features in the linguistic input of three mothers to their infants in the prelinguistic year

Abstract

Vol. 1
The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the nature of and changes in selected aspects of language used by three mothers when speaking to their babies in the first twelve months of life. The language corpora of the three mothers were obtained while they were engaged in normal caretaking activities within the home context. In order that this context might be more fully understood data were obtained using a videocamera and microphone. This allowed comment to be made on all observations between the first and twelfth month. Selected features of syntax were chosen for study since the corpus of language is so rich both in syntax and semantics that it would have been impossible to study them all. Maternal speech to prelinguistic children was chosen for study since this is an area almost entirely neglected in previous research. The method of investigation was to visit the mothers and children in their own homes at approximately two weekly intervals over the course of their first year when normal activities of feeding, bathing and playing could be observed in their natural context. All speech used by the mothers on these occasions was recorded verbatim and then transcribed. As far as possible the accompanying actions of mother and baby were also noted. In respect of each observation a count of all words was made taking into account the age of the baby and the total time during which the mother spoke. Total input was then described to yield indices for analyses. There comprised:- (i) Words per minute (WPM) (ii) Mean length of unit (MLU) ( iii) Sentences (iv) Phrases (v) Fillers (vi) Questions (vii) Repetitions (viii) Command (ix) Statements All estimated as a percentage of total utterances. The mean length of question, commands and statements was then reckoned. Sub-divisions of questions, viz., their types were also calculated. Types of repetitions were then estimated. Finally the reference type of utterance was measured and the degree to which norms were modified. On the basis of these data the prelinguistic year was considered as comprising four quarters covering the first, second, third and fourth three months. The objective was to investigate whether there were significant differences in the input of these variables for the whole year, for quarters of the year and then between successive periods of the year, viz., to measure if there were any trends which appeared to be common to the three mothers. (v) In order to estimate whether significant differences existed with respect to these measures two non-parametric tests were used: the Mann-Whitney and the Wilcoxin tests. The features of maternal speech to emerge as characteristic were exemplified in consistency of usage by individual mothers, favoured syntactical forms shared by the three mothers and clear individual differences.

Vol. 2
Transcripts

Date of Award	1983
Original language	English
Supervisor	Áine Downey (Supervisor)