Play centers and the production of imaginative language∗

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Abstract
The intent of the study was to determine the effects of age (4 and 5 years) and play centers (constructive and dramatic) on children's production of imaginative language (explicit language and language which takes people away from their immediate surroundings, i.e., displaced reference). Explicit language was characterized as endo‐phoric text and elaborated nominal groups. Displaced reference was marked by cognitive and linguistic verbs, third‐person pronouns and non‐present tense verbs. The ten 4‐year‐olds and ten 5‐year‐olds were observed in same‐age and same‐sex dyads on four occasions (twice in a constructive context and twice in a dramatic context) in an experimental playroom. Results indicated that older children used more explicit language than younger children. Play context effected language to the extent that children used more exophora in the constructive context and more linguistic verbs, third‐person pronouns, and displaced reference tenses in the dramatic context.