Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A presente investigação se volta para a expressão de objeto direto anafórico (ODA) na produção de dados espontâneos de aquisição bilíngue simultânea (BFLA Bilingual First Language Acquisition) de Português Brasileiro (PB) e de inglês. A literatura em BFLA tem assumido que as duas línguas são adquiridas de maneira independente (DE HOUWER, 1990, 2005; PARADIS; GENESEE, 1996), porém indica que pode haver momentos de interação entre os dois sistemas linguísticos, resultando em transferência entre propriedades paramétricas das línguas (HULK; MÜLLER, 2000; MÜLLER; HULK, 2001; PÉREZ-LEROUX, et al 2009 ; STRIK; PÉREZ-LEROUX, 2011; SORACE, 2011). Essa investigação é conduzida com base na teoria de Princípios & Parâmetros (CHOMSKY, 1981) do Gerativismo, reformulada com o Programa Minimalista (CHOMSKY, 1995). PB e inglês se diferenciam em relação à marcação paramétrica para ODA: o PB admite objeto nulo anafórico (ON) e o inglês não. A hipótese de trabalho adotada é de que haverá transferência do PB para o inglês. Dois tipos de categorias nulas são observados: objetos nulos dêitico (Odeit) e anafórico (ON). Assume-se que a manifestação do primeiro tipo indica um estágio default universal, que constituiria uma estratégia facilitadora (RIZZI, 2005). A possibilidade de uso de ONs agramaticais no inglês é concebida como resultado da presença de dados ambíguos, que reforçariam essa possibilidade equivocadamente no inglês, em consonância com o defendido em Hulk & Müller (2000) e Müller & Hulk (2001). Assume-se, ademais, que as restrições semânticas que regem a distribuição das formas possíveis para ODA no PB (CYRINO, 2006; LOPES, 2009) só poderiam ser detectadas em uma faixa etária mais alta. São analisados dados espontâneos de três bilíngues simultâneos (N, L e A) em interação com seus pais. N foi acompanhado dos 2;1,18 aos 3;8,24 anos de idade, enquanto L foi acompanhada dos 2;5,30 aos 3;1,1 anos e A foi acompanhado dos 3;2,6 aos 3;8,26 anos. As manifestações de ODA foram identificadas e classificadas em DP, pronome, ON e ODeit. Comparando os bilíngues, constatou-se que cada criança parece estar em um momento de aquisição: N apresenta instâncias de ODeit em contextos imperativos e pronomes aparecem apenas no inglês aos 2;5,2 anos. L tem preferência por DPs nas duas línguas e usa pronomes apenas na língua inglesa. Aos 2;6,22 anos, surgem instâncias de ON com mais frequência no PB, mas também no inglês. A criança A apresenta todos os tipos de preenchimento de ODA e ONs aparecem nas duas línguas. Os dados indicam que ONs agramaticais estão presentes no inglês, sugerindo que há transferência do PB para o inglês / This research focuses on the expression of the anaphoric direct object (ADO) in Bilingual First Language Acquisition (BFLA) of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and English. It has been assumed in the BFLA literature that the two languages are acquired independently in BFLA context (DE HOUWER, 1990, 2005; PARADIS; GENESEE, 1996). However studies also indicate that there may be moments in the course of the bilingual acquisition in which both languages interact resulting in parameter transfering (HULK; MÜLLER, 2000; MÜLLER; HULK, 2001; PÉREZ-LEROUX, et al 2009 ; STRIK; PÉREZ-LEROUX, 2011; SORACE, 2011). The framework adopted is the Generative Theory, particularly, the Principle & Parameter Theory (CHOMSKY, 1981) reformulated within the Minimalist Program (CHOMSKY, 1995). BP and English set different parameters for ADO: BP allows for null objects whereas English does not. The hypothesis is that there will be transfer from BP to English. Two types of null categories are observed: deictic object (Odeit) and anaphoric object (NO). We assume that the expression of the first type of null category indicates a universal default stage which would configurate a facilitation strategy (RIZZI, 2005). The possibility of use of ungrammatical NOs in English is conceived as a result of ambiguous data, which wrongly reinforce the possibility of NOs in English, in accordance with Hulk & Müller (2000) and Müller & Hulk (2001). We claim that the semantic restrictions which govern the expression of ADO in BP (CYRINO, 2006; LOPES, 2009) could only be detected with older bilinguals. The spontaneous data of three simultaneous bilinguals (N,L and A) in interaction with their parents are analyzed. N was observed from 2;1,18 to 3;8,24 years old, L was observed from 2;5,30 to 3;1,1 years old and A,from 3;2,6 to 3;8,26 anos. The forms used for the expression of ADO were identified and classified into DP, pronoun, NO and ODeit. Comparing the three bilinguals, we verified that each child seems to be in a particular moment of acquisition: N presents instances of Odeit in imperative contexts and pronouns appear only in English at 2;5,2. L shows preference for DPs in both languages and pronouns pop up only in English. At 2;6,22 years old, instances of NO appear in BP, but also in English. The bilingual A presents all types of expression of ADO and NOs appear in both languages. The data indicates that ungrammatical NOs are present in English suggesting transfer from BP to English

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A presente investigação se volta para a expressão de objeto direto anafórico (ODA) na produção de dados espontâneos de aquisição bilíngue simultânea (BFLA Bilingual First Language Acquisition) de Português Brasileiro (PB) e de inglês. A literatura em BFLA tem assumido que as duas línguas são adquiridas de maneira independente (DE HOUWER, 1990, 2005; PARADIS; GENESEE, 1996), porém indica que pode haver momentos de interação entre os dois sistemas linguísticos, resultando em transferência entre propriedades paramétricas das línguas (HULK; MÜLLER, 2000; MÜLLER; HULK, 2001; PÉREZ-LEROUX, et al 2009 ; STRIK; PÉREZ-LEROUX, 2011; SORACE, 2011). Essa investigação é conduzida com base na teoria de Princípios & Parâmetros (CHOMSKY, 1981) do Gerativismo, reformulada com o Programa Minimalista (CHOMSKY, 1995). PB e inglês se diferenciam em relação à marcação paramétrica para ODA: o PB admite objeto nulo anafórico (ON) e o inglês não. A hipótese de trabalho adotada é de que haverá transferência do PB para o inglês. Dois tipos de categorias nulas são observados: objetos nulos dêitico (Odeit) e anafórico (ON). Assume-se que a manifestação do primeiro tipo indica um estágio default universal, que constituiria uma estratégia facilitadora (RIZZI, 2005). A possibilidade de uso de ONs agramaticais no inglês é concebida como resultado da presença de dados ambíguos, que reforçariam essa possibilidade equivocadamente no inglês, em consonância com o defendido em Hulk & Müller (2000) e Müller & Hulk (2001). Assume-se, ademais, que as restrições semânticas que regem a distribuição das formas possíveis para ODA no PB (CYRINO, 2006; LOPES, 2009) só poderiam ser detectadas em uma faixa etária mais alta. São analisados dados espontâneos de três bilíngues simultâneos (N, L e A) em interação com seus pais. N foi acompanhado dos 2;1,18 aos 3;8,24 anos de idade, enquanto L foi acompanhada dos 2;5,30 aos 3;1,1 anos e A foi acompanhado dos 3;2,6 aos 3;8,26 anos. As manifestações de ODA foram identificadas e classificadas em DP, pronome, ON e ODeit. Comparando os bilíngues, constatou-se que cada criança parece estar em um momento de aquisição: N apresenta instâncias de ODeit em contextos imperativos e pronomes aparecem apenas no inglês aos 2;5,2 anos. L tem preferência por DPs nas duas línguas e usa pronomes apenas na língua inglesa. Aos 2;6,22 anos, surgem instâncias de ON com mais frequência no PB, mas também no inglês. A criança A apresenta todos os tipos de preenchimento de ODA e ONs aparecem nas duas línguas. Os dados indicam que ONs agramaticais estão presentes no inglês, sugerindo que há transferência do PB para o inglês / This research focuses on the expression of the anaphoric direct object (ADO) in Bilingual First Language Acquisition (BFLA) of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and English. It has been assumed in the BFLA literature that the two languages are acquired independently in BFLA context (DE HOUWER, 1990, 2005; PARADIS; GENESEE, 1996). However studies also indicate that there may be moments in the course of the bilingual acquisition in which both languages interact resulting in parameter transfering (HULK; MÜLLER, 2000; MÜLLER; HULK, 2001; PÉREZ-LEROUX, et al 2009 ; STRIK; PÉREZ-LEROUX, 2011; SORACE, 2011). The framework adopted is the Generative Theory, particularly, the Principle & Parameter Theory (CHOMSKY, 1981) reformulated within the Minimalist Program (CHOMSKY, 1995). BP and English set different parameters for ADO: BP allows for null objects whereas English does not. The hypothesis is that there will be transfer from BP to English. Two types of null categories are observed: deictic object (Odeit) and anaphoric object (NO). We assume that the expression of the first type of null category indicates a universal default stage which would configurate a facilitation strategy (RIZZI, 2005). The possibility of use of ungrammatical NOs in English is conceived as a result of ambiguous data, which wrongly reinforce the possibility of NOs in English, in accordance with Hulk & Müller (2000) and Müller & Hulk (2001). We claim that the semantic restrictions which govern the expression of ADO in BP (CYRINO, 2006; LOPES, 2009) could only be detected with older bilinguals. The spontaneous data of three simultaneous bilinguals (N,L and A) in interaction with their parents are analyzed. N was observed from 2;1,18 to 3;8,24 years old, L was observed from 2;5,30 to 3;1,1 years old and A,from 3;2,6 to 3;8,26 anos. The forms used for the expression of ADO were identified and classified into DP, pronoun, NO and ODeit. Comparing the three bilinguals, we verified that each child seems to be in a particular moment of acquisition: N presents instances of Odeit in imperative contexts and pronouns appear only in English at 2;5,2. L shows preference for DPs in both languages and pronouns pop up only in English. At 2;6,22 years old, instances of NO appear in BP, but also in English. The bilingual A presents all types of expression of ADO and NOs appear in both languages. The data indicates that ungrammatical NOs are present in English suggesting transfer from BP to English

This thesis focuses on Chinese–Swedish code-switching of bilingual children in Sweden. The purpose is to, through a case study, study what Chinese–Swedish code-switching looks like in daily conversations between bilingual children and their parents. Three main questions are formulated from the purpose of the thesis, foucusing on the types and frequencies of code-switching, the grammar of code-switching, and the motivation of code-switching. The linguistic material comes from voice recordings of naturally occurring conversations between three children and their parents, which are transcribed afterwards. In order to answer the questions, two different kinds of analyses are carried out: a quantitative analysis, to study the types and frequencies of code-switching, and a qualitative analysis, to study the grammar and motivation of code-switching. The qualitative analysis includes a grammatical analysis and a conversation analysis. The results of the analyses show that the types and frequencies of code-switching vary between different children, due to the interplay of three factors, namely the children’s language competence, the parents’ language patterns and the status of Swedish as the primary language in the society. In intra-sentential code-switching, when both languages have the same word order, constituents in different languages follow the corresponding grammar; and when code-switching occurs at places where there are different word orders in the two languages, the speaker has to choose and follow one of the grammars. The conversation analysis shows that code-switching is used as an extra and exclusive resource for bilingual speakers at turn distribution, marking preference and initiating repair.

This is a case study that focuses on the oral proficiency in English manifested by the 4-year-old sonof the author. He speaks Swedish as his L1 like his both parents but has been exposed to Englishsince he was one year old from using a tablet. The child’s spoken production was recorded andtranscribed with a focus on the plural-forms and the genitive. An important field that this case studyis motivated by is how child language development may be connected to the concept of innatism,that language is based on innate principles (Lightbown & Spada, 2013:20) as it has been found that anumber of languages are acquired according to predictable patterns and processes (Moskowitz,1994:621-627) such as a the u-shaped learning process and over-generalization which has beenfound when investigating both L1 and L2 acquisition (Abrahamsson, 2013:663). The aim of thisstudy is to find possible similarities within the learning process: whether L2 acquisition follows thesame developmental patterns as in L1 acquisition by analyzing the recordings mainly targeting theplural and the genitive morphemes produced by a 4-year-old L2 speaker of English. Findings in thisresearch revealed that the child demonstrated a similar developmental pattern in the form of theu-shaped learning process (Abrahamsson, 2013:663).

Grammar acquisition is a widely researched area in international psycholinguistics. A great amount of research has focused on determining the order of acquiring grammatical words and forms in individual languages (e.g. Bloom et al., 1980; Brown, 1973; de Villiers & de Villiers, 1973). By contrast, as regards Czech, to this day there has been only a limited amount of data on the process of the acquisition of grammar words and forms based on empirical research or sourced from an adequate number of child respondents. Some findings about Czech grammar acquisition were introduced e.g. by Pačesová (1979), Chejnová (2016a) or Smolík (2002). The present dissertation therefore aims to collect descriptive data on the acquisition of grammatical words and forms in Czech. It also determines whether these grammar acquisition data can be collected using parent reports (e.g. Fenson et al., 1993, 2007; Rescorla, 1989), a method which has been used primarily to monitor the acquisition of lexis. Grammar acquisition has been examined through parent reports only to a limited extent. The dissertation comprises five parent report surveys, aimed at the acquisition of noun and adjective cases, verb forms, prepositions, interrogative expressions, conjunctions and linking expressions. Data were collected from a total of 580...

Det saknas logopediskt bedömningsmaterial normerat för flerspråkiga barn, och kunskapen om dessa barns typiska tal- och språkutveckling är begränsad hos logopeder i Sverige. Detta leder till över- och underdiagnostisering av språkstörning. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka svensk-engelsktalande barns narrativer (berättelser). Dessa analyseras kvantitativt och kvalitativt, både makrostrukturellt (story grammar) och mikrostrukturellt (lingvistiska mått). Även narrativ förståelse undersöks och jämförs med produktion. Studiens deltagare är 16 simultant flerspråkiga svensk-engelsktalande barn i åldern 6-7 år, som går i förskoleklass eller i första klass. Narrativerna eliciteras med hjälp av två bildsekvenser ur ett bedömningsmaterial framtaget av en forskningsgrupp inom COST Action IS0804. Bedömningsmaterialet innehåller även förståelsefrågor till bildsekvenserna, och bakgrundsfrågor för vårdnadshavare att fylla i. Resultaten visar inga skillnader i makrostruktur mellan svenska och engelska, vilket tyder på att narrativ förmåga inte nödvändigtvis är språkbunden. Jämförelser mellan förståelse och produktion av utvalda story grammar-komponenter visar dock en tydlig skillnad. Förståelsen för en karaktärs mål (story grammar-komponenten goal), vad karaktären vill uppnå, är etablerad hos de flesta deltagarna trots att produktionen av goal är begränsad. Till skillnad från makrostrukturen, skiljer sig mikrostrukturen åt i narrativerna. De engelska narrativerna är både längre och mer komplexa än de svenska. Skillnaderna mellan barn i förskoleklass och i första klass är dessutom stor, både makro- och mikrostrukturellt. Detta tyder på att mycket händer i barns språkliga och narrativa utveckling i tidig skolålder. Tvärspråkligt inflytande förefaller vara en naturlig del av den typiska språkutvecklingen hos simultant flerspråkiga barn. / There are no standardised tests for assessing bilingual children’s speech and language development, and the knowledge about these children’s typical language development is limited amongst speech and language therapists in Sweden. Studies have shown that this can lead to misdiagnosis of language impairment in these children. The aim of this study is to investigate the narratives of Swedish-English speaking children. Analysis is made, both quantitatively and qualitatively, regarding the macrostructure (story grammar) and the microstructure (linguistic measurements) of the narratives. Narrative comprehension is also examined, and compared with the produced narratives. The participants are 16 simultaneously bilingual Swedish-English speaking children, aged 6-7 years and either attending preschool class or first grade in the Swedish education system. The narratives are elicited using two different sets of pictures from an assessment material designed by a research group within COST Action IS0804. The assessment material also contains comprehension questions and a form for carers to fill in, regarding the children’s linguistic backgrounds. The results in this study show no macrostructural differences between the Swedish and the English narratives, which indicates that narrative ability is not necessarily language dependent. There is a clear difference between the comprehension and production of selected story grammar components. Despite the limited production of characters’ goals in the narratives, the participants appear to have established the comprehension of this story grammar component. The microstructural analysis of the narratives shows that the English narratives are both longer and more complex than the Swedish ones. There are differences between participants attending Swedish preschool class and participants attending Swedish first grade, with regards to both macrostructure and microstructure. The differences indicate that language and narrative ability is increasing between the ages of 6 and 7. Crosslinguistic influence appears to be a natural part of typical language development in simultaneously bilingual children.

Repetitions in child-directed speech (CDS) have been shown to vary over time, and are suggested to affect first language acquisition. Correlations between verbal contents of repetitions in CDS and children’s language development have been suggested. The verbal contents of repetitions in Swedish CDS have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the verbal contents of repetitions in Swedish CDS during the child’s first 2 years and possible changes in proportions of repetitions during the same time span. Verbal contents of repetitions in parents’ speech in 10 parent-child dyads as the children were 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months old were investigated focusing on word classes, sentence types and whole-constituent change. The results were compared to the children’s productive vocabularies at the age of 30 months. Possible occurrences of item-based constructions and frequent frames in the repetitions were also examined. The overall results revealed patterns concerning change in verbal contents in repetitions over time and correlations between verbal contents in repetitions and child language development. Two proposals were made: parents adjust the complexity of their speech to linguistic developmental stages of their children, and linguistic variation in the input increases as the child grows older. / Repetitioner i barnriktat tal (BRT) har visat sig variera över tid, och har föreslagits påverka förstaspåksinlärning. Även ett samband mellan det verbala innehållet i repetitioner i BRT och barns språkutveckling har föreslagits. Det verbala innehållet i repetitioner i svenskt BRT har inte undersökts tidigare. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka det verbala innehållet i repetitioner i svenskt BRT under barnets två första år och möjliga förändringar gällande andelen repetitioner under samma tidsperiod. Det verbala innehållet i repetitioner i föräldrars tal hos tio förälder-barn-dyader då barnen var 3, 6, 9, 12 och 24 månader gamla undersöktes med fokus på ordklasser, satstyper och förändringar gällande konstituenter. Resultaten jämfördes med barnens produktiva ordförråd vid 30 månaders ålder. Även den möjliga förekomsten av typbaserade konstruktioner (item-based constructions) och frekventa ramar (frequent frames) undersöktes. De övergripande resultaten uppvisade mönster gällande förändringar inom det verbala innehållet i repetitioner över tid samt ett samband mellan det verbala innehållet i repetitioner och barns språkutveckling. Två antaganden gjordes: föräldrar justerar komplexiteten i sitt tal efter språkliga utvecklingsfaser hos sina barn, och den språkliga variationen i inputen ökar med barnets ålder. / MINT: Modelling infant language acquisition from parent-child interaction (MAW 2011.007)

No description available.

Prevailing research presents evidence that links language proficiency to fundamental literacy acquisition. However, when language and literacy acquisition are simultaneous, as is the case with young (4-6 years) English language learners (ELL’s), who acquire literacy in a language not spoken at home in B.C. Canada, the research is limited. The aim of the study was to explore and compare the language and literacy profiles (LLP) of ELL’s and monolingual learners. The normative processes as elucidated in the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model, Vygotsky’s sociocultural model and the Critical Theory (CT) model informed the comparative framework. In addition, the second language acquisition (SLA) theoretical frameworks purported by Chomsky, Vygotsky and Krashen are elaborated upon. A causal comparative approach to the mixed model research design and a complementary mixed methods approach is applied to the study. The study interactively investigated the cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) of ELL’s and sought statistically significant differences between the language and literature profiles (LLP) of 25 ELL’s and his/her parent - whose home language is other than English during first time literacy acquisition - and 25 monolingual learners and his/her parent (selected via a simple, purposive, random sample strategy) when English is the language medium used in the inclusive classroom. The qualitative findings delineated the LLP of the ELL’s with regard to CALD, biographic and background details; the quantitative findings, delineated the at risk educationally vulnerable minority by virtue of their limited English proficiency (LEP) and limited emergent literacy and language profile (LLP). The identification of the at risk educationally vulnerable minority, informed the proposed theoretical framework for the study, namely, namely, LLP - Semiotic Scaffolding-From Theory to Practice and the attendant curriculum. Findings are discussed comparatively with the classic and current theoretical frameworks pertaining to child development, language acquisition for both first and second language acquisition (SLA) in addition to globalisation, inclusive education and social justice. The implication of the findings for policy makers, curriculum planners, schools, teachers, classrooms, parents and the learners are discussed. Opportunities for further research are noted. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Prevailing research presents evidence that links language proficiency to fundamental literacy acquisition. However, when language and literacy acquisition are simultaneous, as is the case with young (4-6 years) English language learners (ELL’s), who acquire literacy in a language not spoken at home in B.C. Canada, the research is limited. The aim of the study was to explore and compare the language and literacy profiles (LLP) of ELL’s and monolingual learners. The normative processes as elucidated in the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model, Vygotsky’s sociocultural model and the Critical Theory (CT) model informed the comparative framework. In addition, the second language acquisition (SLA) theoretical frameworks purported by Chomsky, Vygotsky and Krashen are elaborated upon. A causal comparative approach to the mixed model research design and a complementary mixed methods approach is applied to the study. The study interactively investigated the cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) of ELL’s and sought statistically significant differences between the language and literature profiles (LLP) of 25 ELL’s and his/her parent - whose home language is other than English during first time literacy acquisition - and 25 monolingual learners and his/her parent (selected via a simple, purposive, random sample strategy) when English is the language medium used in the inclusive classroom. The qualitative findings delineated the LLP of the ELL’s with regard to CALD, biographic and background details; the quantitative findings, delineated the at risk educationally vulnerable minority by virtue of their limited English proficiency (LEP) and limited emergent literacy and language profile (LLP). The identification of the at risk educationally vulnerable minority, informed the proposed theoretical framework for the study, namely, namely, LLP - Semiotic Scaffolding-From Theory to Practice and the attendant curriculum. Findings are discussed comparatively with the classic and current theoretical frameworks pertaining to child development, language acquisition for both first and second language acquisition (SLA) in addition to globalisation, inclusive education and social justice. The implication of the findings for policy makers, curriculum planners, schools, teachers, classrooms, parents and the learners are discussed. Opportunities for further research are noted. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)