Metalinguistic awareness in first graders: a qualitative perspective

Children's metalinguistic awareness is explored using a nonexperimental probe designed to examine first graders' perceived notions of normal & abnormal communication in others. Information was gathered in open-ended interviews with Ss (N = 23). To ascertain numerous perspectives on the interview data, indefinite triangulation procedures were used. Interview data were examined for emerging patterns that might indicate how children manifest their awareness of language. Findings suggest that the influence of social interaction on the development of children's metalinguistic awareness may be as important as cognitive factors. 1 Table, 3 Figures, 36 References. Adapted from the source document