Language-specificity of motion event expressions in young Korean children
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Soonja Choi
Abstract
This paper examines the development of motion expressions in two Korean children. The database consists of bi-weekly to monthly recordings of spontaneous mother–child interaction in their home between ages 1:11 and 4;2. All expressions of motion, both spontaneous and caused, were analyzed following the coding system developed by Hickmann, Hendriks & Champaud (2009). Analyses include form–function relationships between the types of linguistic devices used and the components of Motion expressed (e.g. Path, Manner, Cause), as well as the semantic density of motion-relevant information within the clause. The results were then compared to those of French and English learners reported in Hickmann et al. (2009).
Korean is typologically a verb-framed language similar to French (Talmy, 2000), but it allows serial verb constructions and postpositional markers. Results show that from two years of age, Korean children use these syntactic features and produce semantically denser utterances than French children. Moreover, Korean children often express Manner of Motion with adverbs, another characteristic feature in the adult Korean grammar. These findings support the claim that language-specific grammar influences children’s expression of Motion events from very early on. In addition, the present study shows that significant variation exists among languages of the same type.
Abstract
This paper examines the development of motion expressions in two Korean children. The database consists of bi-weekly to monthly recordings of spontaneous mother–child interaction in their home between ages 1:11 and 4;2. All expressions of motion, both spontaneous and caused, were analyzed following the coding system developed by Hickmann, Hendriks & Champaud (2009). Analyses include form–function relationships between the types of linguistic devices used and the components of Motion expressed (e.g. Path, Manner, Cause), as well as the semantic density of motion-relevant information within the clause. The results were then compared to those of French and English learners reported in Hickmann et al. (2009).
Korean is typologically a verb-framed language similar to French (Talmy, 2000), but it allows serial verb constructions and postpositional markers. Results show that from two years of age, Korean children use these syntactic features and produce semantically denser utterances than French children. Moreover, Korean children often express Manner of Motion with adverbs, another characteristic feature in the adult Korean grammar. These findings support the claim that language-specific grammar influences children’s expression of Motion events from very early on. In addition, the present study shows that significant variation exists among languages of the same type.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Grammaticalization and first language acquisition 1
-
Articles
- The study of early comprehension in language development 13
- The acquisition of nominal determiners in French and German 37
- Exploring patterns of adaptation in child-directed speech during the process of early grammaticalization in child language 61
- Sonority, gender and the impact of suffix predictability on the acquisition of German noun plurals 81
- The impact of typological factors in monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition 101
- Developmental perspectives on the expression of motion in speech and gesture 129
- Language-specificity of motion event expressions in young Korean children 157
- Index 185
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Grammaticalization and first language acquisition 1
-
Articles
- The study of early comprehension in language development 13
- The acquisition of nominal determiners in French and German 37
- Exploring patterns of adaptation in child-directed speech during the process of early grammaticalization in child language 61
- Sonority, gender and the impact of suffix predictability on the acquisition of German noun plurals 81
- The impact of typological factors in monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition 101
- Developmental perspectives on the expression of motion in speech and gesture 129
- Language-specificity of motion event expressions in young Korean children 157
- Index 185
