Author: Sumbal Zafar
Supervisor: Rabia Dasti, Sharmin Aslam Tarar, Farah Malik PhD
Degree: MS
Year: 2015-2017
University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study investigated the acquisition of conjunctions in
typically developing children between the ages of three to six
years. It was hypothesized that girls are likely to acquire more
grammatical categories of conjunctions in younger age than boys.
In addition to that, it was also hypothesized that there is likely to
be a positive correlation between age and types of conjunctions
acquired. The sample of the present study comprised of 60
children. Twelve children from each age group were included in
the sample. The age groups were 3.0 to 3.6, 3.7 to 3.12, 4.0 to 4.6,
and 4.7 to 4.12, 5.0 to 5.6 and 5.7 to 5.12 (six boys and six girls in
each group). Semi-structured elicitation technique; form focused
with co-player task through imitative role play (Eisenbeiv, 1994)
was used to screen out participants for data elicitation. Data was
collected in two days from each child. Results of the t-test showed
no gender differences in the acquisition of different types of
conjunctions. There were significant age differences in the
acquisition of different types of conjunctions. Moreover, there
was positive correlation between age and types of conjunctions
acquired. Results also revealed positive correlation between
acquisitions of different types of conjunctions. Regression
analysis revealed that age strongly predicts acquisition of types of
conjunctions. The study will help to identify and diagnose
semantic language disorder or expressive language delay
depending on the age. The present study will help to provide the
rudimentary data for the typically development of conjunctions,
which can further facilitate the identification and screening of the
typical development of conjunctions in children.
Keywords: Conjunctions, Semantic Language, Expressive Language.
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