Development of Cohesive Devices in Preschool Korean Children

Lee, Hee Ran; Lee, Seungbok

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Commun Sci Disord. 2010;15(3): 298-306.

Hee Ran Lee^` , and Seungbok Lee^`

이희란(Hee Ran Lee)|이승복(Seungbok Lee)

ABSTRACT

Background & Objectives
In the present study, the developmental characteristics of cohesion devices in children aged 3 to 6 years were examined using longitudinal data from five Korean preschool children.
Methods
The data were collected twice a week for 12 months and were transcribed from video recordings recorded in natural situations in the children’s homes with their mothers present from the ages of 3;9-6;4 years. Cohesion devices including conjunctives, connective endings, and anaphors were analyzed using the longitudinal data.
Results
First, the number of utterances for analysis increased with age. Second, the use of conjunctions increased with the age, which appeared to be the developmental index for this age group. Third, the use of connective endings varied according to the characteristics and age of each child.
Discussion & Conclusion
The use of conjunctions is suggested to be the best developmental index in preschool aged children among the three cohesion devices tested in this study. (Korean Journal of Communication Disorders 2010;15;298-306)