Mother‐child dialogues: Considerations of cognitive complexity for young language learning children

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The application of the Blank and Franklin (1980) cognitively based dialogue coding system to conversations between mothers and their young normal language learning children (age range 12 to 24 months) was explored. The original coding system was adapted to accommodate the children's use of actions as well as language to partake in dialogue. Videotaped, naturally occurring mother‐child interactions for ten dyads provided the data base for the present study. Results demonstrate that mothers address their utterances at, or one level above, the level of complexity to which the children responded most effectively. There was a correspondence between the level of the utterances initiated most often by the children and the level to which they responded best. The use of the adapted coding system with language impaired mother‐child dyads is discussed.