Language Notes

Psychology 560 extra credit exercise Read through these two transcripts of a young child's speech. Abe is 2 and a half years old in the first transcript, and 3 years old in the second transcript. Your assignment is to write a brief (500 words or so) analysis of Abe's language development. What do you notice about his language that is interesting? Here are some guidelines, and information for how points will be allocated (total possible = 3 points): 1 point for describing some of the ways that Abe's language useage (words, sentence structure, etc.) changes from the first transcript (2 years 6 months) to the second transcript (3 years)? What aspects of his language useage are changing as he develops? 1 point for noting some of the errors (syntax, morphology) that Abe makes. What do these errors suggest about his linguistic knowledge? 1 point for other insightful descriptions of Abe's language development (other than the two noted above). Please feel free to work on this assignment in groups (of up to four people). Type up one analysis for your group, include all of your names, and leave it in the box that will be provided during class on Tuesday, April 7. Abe is two-and-a-half years old in the first transcript. Participants: *CHI is the child, Abe *FAT is Abe's Father *MOT is Abe's mother Age of CHI: Two years and six months NOTES: # means pause. (t) means the "t" was left out of the word. TRANSCRIPT *FAT: do you like those toys # Abe? *CHI: uhhuh # like them see those donkeys down there! *CHI: and what else? *FAT: what's that? *FAT: what are you doing # Abe? *CHI: I want to beat you up in the bed! *FAT: you want to beat me up in the bed? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: why don't you start beating me up over there on the mattress if you think you can? *CHI: I'm gon (t)a beat you up in here! *FAT: I'm going to go sit over on the mattress if you want to beat me up # you better come over there you haven't got a chance! *FAT: you think you can get me? *FAT: fat chance! *CHI: uhhuh # stop it! *CHI: stop it! *CHI: funny Daddy! *FAT: see # you didn't get me. *CHI: I'm gon (t)a get you. *FAT: oh # yeah we'll see about that # help! *FAT: Abe's getting me how come you're getting me # Abe? *CHI: because. *FAT: because? *FAT: that's no excuse help! *FAT: Abe's getting me again # guess what I'm gon (t)a do? *FAT: guess what I'm gon (t)a do? *CHI: blow bubbles? *FAT: right # I'm gon (t)a blow bubbles on your tummy. *CHI: no # no # no I don't want to. *FAT: I want to. *CHI: no # no! *CHI: no # no I don't want to! *FAT: ok # ok # I'll leave you alone. *CHI: what's that? *FAT: that's the microphone. *CHI: I want to touch it! *FAT: go ahead you can touch it be careful # ok. *CHI: don't say no # ok? *FAT: I won't say no go ahead and say something to it pick it up and say something to it. *CHI: hi. *FAT: tell it who you are. *CHI: I'm Abe. *FAT: aah! *FAT: Abe who? *CHI: Abe Duncan. *FAT: where are you from? *CHI: from Texas. *FAT: how old are you? *CHI: two. *FAT: tell it where we went this weekend. *CHI: we go see Ken we see my teacher. *FAT: yes! *FAT: where else did we go? *CHI: fishing trip! *FAT: what'd we do on the fishing trip? *CHI: eat. *FAT: eat! *FAT: is that all we did? *CHI: uhhuh # eat # here # you take it. *FAT: ok # I'll put it right up here # ok. *CHI: ok. *FAT: ok Abe's getting me again ok # this time no mercy I'm really gon (t)a get you. *CHI: I'm a tiger. *FAT: you're a tiger wow # you're even talking like a tiger I'm gon (t)a get the tiger I got him. *CHI: Batman! *FAT: you're Batman? *CHI: no # Batman in the air. *FAT: oh # you wan(t) (t)a fly in the air? *FAT: ok # grab hold of my feet. *CHI: I'm highest. *FAT: you're highest? *CHI: uhhuh # I'm highest. *FAT: you sure are what are you doing? *CHI: I'm up I'm swinging. *FAT: awoh # Batman fell you ok # Batman? *CHI: uhhuh # I wan(t) (t)a do that again. *FAT: you wan(t) (t)a do that again? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: ok # here we go. *CHI: do it again uhh # help! *FAT: ok # you ready? *CHI: uhhuh. *CHI: get set # go! *FAT: ok # here we go stop # stop. (Father puts Abe down) *CHI: I'm hiding. *FAT: you're gon (t)a hide? *CHI: uhhuh # I'm hiding I'm gon (t)a hide right here # hiding place. *FAT: boy # you really are going to hide what are you # a turkey? *CHI: no # a tiger! *FAT: help me Mom # the tiger's getting me help oh # the tiger's getting me help help I'm going to get the tiger. *CHI: no. *FAT: I'll get your hand. *CHI: no. *FAT: I'll get your tummy. *CHI: no. *FAT: ok # let's be friends # ok? *FAT: I [//] you're tickling me? *FAT: I'm gon (t)a get you now. *CHI: I'm a tiger. (Abe tickles Father) *FAT: you're a tiger? *CHI: I'm Batman # I wan(t) (t)a go on your feet # ok I wan(t) (t)a go on your feet. *FAT: you do ok # come here and we'll see if you can fly for a little while. *CHI: I'm a tiger. *FAT: a tiger on my feet! *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: boy # that was fun. *CHI: in bedroom! *CHI: in the bedroom. *FAT: I think we're doing ok out here what do you want to do? *CHI: in there. *FAT: in the bedroom? *FAT: how come? *CHI: because I don't wan(t) (t)a get you out here. *FAT: why not? *FAT: I thought you'd like it out here guess what's on tonight. *CHI: what's on tv? *FAT: a baseball game. *CHI: a baseball game! *FAT: uhhuh. *CHI: baseball come on tv six+thirty! *MOT: what? *FAT: a baseball game it comes on at seven! *CHI: where's me? (Abe covers his face with a piece of paper) *FAT: where's Abe? *FAT: I don't see him anywhere. *CHI: here he is! *FAT: oh # there Abe is I see him now. *CHI: baker! (Abe puts the bowl on his head) *CHI: baker! *CHI: baker! *FAT: you're a baker? *FAT: will you bake me a cake? *CHI: what's in here? *CHI: what's in here? *CHI: # look what's in here? *CHI: look what I find! *MOT: that's Terry's information. *CHI: here's Terry's information. *MOT: let's see! *MOT: uhhuh # it's about school remember Shannon crying this morning # Abe tell Daddy what we told her. *CHI: we say cry # we say shut up! *MOT: no we didn't! *CHI: we say quiet. *MOT: did you tell Dad that we defrosted the freezer? *CHI: we frosted the freezer. *MOT: you found ice on the floor. *CHI: we find ice on the floor. *FAT: really? *FAT: what else? *CHI: we frosted the freezer # in the freezer. *MOT: we also took out plant to the doctor! *CHI: the plant didn't cried. *FAT: the plant cried? *CHI: no. *FAT: oh # the plant didn't cry? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: what was wrong with the plant? *MOT: it needs to be hung outdoors. *CHI: I'm a bear. *MOT: you are? *MOT: what kind of bear? *CHI: a polar bear. *MOT: you sure are. *CHI: I'm a white bear. *MOT: a white bear. *CHI: uhhuh. *MOT: that means you're a polar bear! *FAT: or a albino black bear! *CHI: no # a white bear # we go to country we see a barn! *FAT: what did you see? *CHI: we saw a barn. *FAT: a barn! *FAT: that's right. *CHI: I saw # barn in the country. *FAT: that's right! *FAT: what else did you see? *CHI: mushrooms! *FAT: what else? *CHI: another mushroom. *FAT: what did you see when we went canoeing? *CHI: I saw a turtle. *FAT: you did! *CHI: uhhuh! *FAT: we can go canoeing again some time what do you think about that # Abe? *CHI: don't want to go. *FAT: you don't want to go? *FAT: how come? *FAT: didn't you like it? *FAT: you wan(t) (t)a go to the museum. *CHI: uhhuh I wan(t) (t)a see beaver we go to country # I see beaver dam # I wan(t) (t)a go to museum. *FAT: ok # maybe you can go tomorrow. *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a go to museum now. *MOT: it's closed # Abe we'll go tomorrow # ok? *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a go now # make yogurt # make yogurt # make more yogurt. *FAT: you want Mom to make more yogurt. *CHI: uhhuh. Abe is 3 years old in the second transcript. Participants: *CHI is the child, Abe *FAT is Abe's Father *GRA is Abe's grandmother Age of CHI: Three years, one day Situation: watering plants with squirt gun. NOTES: # means pause. (t) means the "t" was left out of the word. TRANSCRIPT: *FAT: did you squirt this one # Abe? *CHI: no I'll squirt it now though # I already squirted that one. *FAT: are you goinq to squirt it again. *CHI: no it don't need squirting again no it wasn't thirsty I didn't squirt the lamp because it wasn't thirsty either. *FAT: oh are the plants thirsty? *CHI: yeah and I squirted them. *FAT: good. *CHI: Daddy Daddy can you help me reach up here to get the sink? *FAT: what do you need in the sink? *CHI: more water my squirter is all empty. *FAT: what are you going to squirt with it when you get water? *CHI: plants (be)cause plants are thirsty. *FAT: ok give me the squirter # here you go. *CHI: thanks # it doesn't work can you fix it? *FAT: let me see # it works see. *CHI: don't squirt me I'm not a plant. *FAT: I'm sorry go squirt some plants. *CHI: I'm done squirting plants I wan(t) (t)a watch tv now are cartoons on? *GRA: I don't think so cartoons come on after Karen gets home. *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a watch cartoons now I wan(t) (t)a watch cartoons now I wan(t) (t)a watch cartoons now. *FAT: Abe # cartoons aren't on now you're just going to have to wait a little while. *GRA: I sure do like your sunglasses # Abe I have some sunglasses too. *CHI: can I see em? *FAT: can I wear yours? *CHI: no you said you have some can I see em? *FAT: sure you can let me go find them. *CHI: I didn't know grandmas smoke cigarettes. *FAT: sometimes they do some people smoke and some people don't and grandmas are people # so some grandmas smoke. *CHI: why some grandmas smoke? *FAT: because they like cigarettes. *GRA: here's my sunglasses # Abe do they fit you? *CHI: yeah. *FAT: they look a little big to me. *CHI: no they are not big they are just right you can wear mine and I will wear these ok? *FAT: you can wear mine if you want to give them back you're done ok? *CHI: I will # I'm a mean cowboy I'm gon (t)a shoot you bang! *CHI: bang! *CHI: bang! *CHI: bang! *FAT: you got me help! *FAT: get me a doctor Abe shot me help! *CHI: I was just playing you're not really shot. *FAT: boy what a relief I thought I was a goner. *CHI: I'm gon (t)a get Rufus. *FAT: did you get Rufus? *CHI: yeah I gotted and her a big hug can I brush my teeth? *CHI: they are turning colors. *FAT: ok let's go brush your teeth # here's some toothpaste do you want me to help you? *CHI: no you go because I'm gon (t)a brush them myself. *FAT: ok call me if you need any help? *FAT: are you all done? *CHI: yeah. *FAT: did you brush all your teeth? *CHI: yeah they are clean now. *FAT: good do they feel better? *FAT: do your tongue like this. *CHI: Grandma # may I see your cigarette for a minute? *GRA: why? *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a blow it. *FAT: he likes to blow them so sparks come out. *GRA: why don't I hold it and you blow it? *CHI: I'm a big boy now I don't need anyone to hold it. *FAT: go ahead and let him hold it he won't burn himself. *CHI: here it's your turn now. %act: gets cigarette and blows *FAT: you sure did make a lot of sparks # Abe. *GRA: you sure did I have to go to work now can I have a kiss goodbye? *CHI: no I don't want you to go at work. *GRA: I don't want to go either but since I have to go # can I have a kiss? *CHI: uhhuh there. *GRA: gee that made me feel good can I have another one? *CHI: no I'm a mean cowboy I have to go help Rufus Rufus? *FAT: Abe # are you done with this squirter? *CHI: yeah. *FAT: ok let's start getting ready to go to Bumpa and Ninny's house. *CHI: I don't wan(t) (t)a go to Bumpa and Ninny's house. *FAT: well # we have to go let's get ready. *CHI: I don't wan(t) (t)a go to there I wan(t) (t)a stay here. *FAT: ok # but you'll be here all by yourself Mommy and Daddy are going to Bumpa and Ninny'sfhouse. *CHI: is my Mommy home? *FAT: not now but she'll be back soon when she gets back # we have ta go. *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a go spend the night at Granny's house. *FAT: we can't spend the night there we're going to spend the night at Bumpa and Ninny's house. *CHI: can I do that while we're at Ninny and Bumpa's house? *FAT: what? *CHI: that. *FAT: squirt the plants? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: I think that'd be alright we should ask Ninny first though. *CHI: we can't ask because her maybe will be sick. *FAT: well # we'll ask her anyway we'll take the squirter over there and then you can squirt the plants if Ninny says you can. *CHI: I want to take my book too. *FAT: what book? *CHI: my book that Mommy readed to me. *FAT: which book is that? *CHI: I uh # with Peter Pan. *FAT: your Peter Pan book? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: I'm sure we can take it see if you can find it. *CHI: how long we will come here again? *FAT: we'll come back later on tonight. *CHI: I wan(t) (t)a go to the store first and then after that we can go to the # to Ninny and Bumpa's house. *FAT: why do you want to go to the store? *CHI: I want a surprise a small surprise ok. *FAT: you don't need a surprise you've already got enough surprises for one day. *CHI: I want another surprise. *FAT: we're not going to the store # so you can't get a surprise go get your stuff ready because we're leaving pretty soon. *CHI: I don't wan(t) (t)a go I wan(t) (t)a stay here. *FAT: we have to go go get your stuff. *CHI: I don't wan(t) (t)a go I don't wan(t) (t)a take a nap. *FAT: you don't have to take a nap we're just going to visit for a while. *CHI: when you and Mommy start to go to sleep # you come to my bedroom where I'm sleeping and then go to sleep. *FAT: you want us to come sleep with you? *CHI: uhhuh. *FAT: we will we'll all sleep in the same room when it's time to sleep have you got all your stuff together? *CHI: no. *FAT: go get it all we have to leave soon.