The nominal shift in semantic-syntactic development

Abstract

Transcripts of 24 spontaneous speech samples from 2-year-old children classified by early Speech Type (Referential or Expressive) and MLU level (above or below 2.5) were analyzed in terms of noun and pronoun use in sentences. At higher MLU levels both more sentences and more pronouns were produced than at lower MLU levels. E children used a balance of nouns and pronouns at both levels. There was a decrease in the use of nouns for R children and an increase for E children. Overall, 47% of all nominals as well as 72% of all nominals used in sentences, were pronouns. There were no major changes with development in either the abstract semantic relations expressed or in the discourse function served. The data were interpreted in terms of two contrasting courses of development, one beginning with a lexical emphasis and the other with a syntactic emphasis, which tend to converge between 2 and 3 years of age.