Abstract
Research indicates that young children and adults alter their linguistic behavior in response to the age of the person they are addressing. Yet to be established is how different-age individuals affect the linguistic behavior of preadolescents. The present study explored this question. While seated in a lounge-like setting, five 11-year-olds individually interacted with a young child (6-years), an age-peer, and a young adult (25-30 years). Analysis of the videotaped interactions focused on the preadolescents; measures were taken on the number, duration, and content of their initiated interactions. With young children, the subjects tended to initiate many brief interactions; with adults the initiations were fewer but longer in duration. They tended also to refer to themselves or their family and friends when addressing adults, but referred to the child or the child’s family and friends when speaking with children. Additional findings were (a) most interactions were narrative and initiated verbal-vocally; (b) time frames were seldom specified, except with the adult concerning the past and future; (c) feeling reactions were rarely expressed; and (d) secondary adjustments were infrequent, but when they did occur, most were with the child as part of cooperative game-playing. These findings are consistent with research on adults and children. Importantly, the present study demonstrates the applicability of a research method based on a natural science approach to language.
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Preparation of this paper was supported in part by National Institute of Health Grant BRSG SO7RR07002 and U.S. Department of Education Grants G008300705 and G008530214. Portions of these data were presented at the meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis in Milwaukee, WI, May, 1986.
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Ghezzi, P.M., Bijou, S.W., Umbreit, J. et al. Influence of Age of Listener on Preadolescents’ Linguistic Behavior. Psychol Rec 37, 109–126 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395877
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395877