ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

›› 1986, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (04): 17-25.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

YOUNG CHILDREN’S COMPREHENSION OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS

Zhu Manshu;Chen Guopeng;Zhang Renjun East China Normal University   

  • Published:1986-12-25 Online:1986-12-25

Abstract: This research investigated 2.5 to 5.5-year-old children's comprehe-nsion of the deictic meanings of personal pronouns including "I","You", "He (or She)", etc. Subjects were required to discriminate thereferents of these pronouns in different situations. In experiment 1. thesubject acted as an observer of a talk by a triad; In experiment 2. thesubject participated in the triad, he (or she) either played the listenerof the conversation or played the third person. The results indicate:(1) Children's comprehension of deictic meaning of personal pronounsdevelop chronologically from the age of 2.5 to 4.5, but there is nosignificant change between ages 4.5 to 5.5; (2) The readiness forchildren to comprehend pronouns varies with " Ⅰ " being the easiest,and "he (or she)" the hardest; (3) In comprehending the deicticmeaning of personal Pronouns, children often cannot properly alternatetheir reference frame required by situational change.

Key words: NULL