Contextual cues and children’s non-literal comprehension: An analysis on Turkish

Abstract

This study moves from the arguments on one side that language input (specifically the adult language) has a significant part and a shaping function in the communication process with children, on the other side that this process is exclusively shaped by co-textual and contextual cues. With this aim in mind, in this study, first, the related literature on child language, non-literal comprehension, and the effect of context on non-literal comprehension were overviewed then the data collection process of the study was introduced. And then, the database that includes the transcription of the pieces of a natural conversation with children in a TV show was analyzed around three questions in terms of: i. What is the nature of the trigger questions directed to children? ii. What is the nature of the main questions directed to children? and iii. What is the role of the clues in the non-literal comprehension process of children? To achieve this end, firstly, the quantitative aspects of the database were revealed, and non-literal expressions were analyzed as cues for children to answer the related questions within specified classifications. Secondly, the overall data including the cases of successful or unsuccessful communication instances between adults and the children were interpreted within the contextual cue perspective. While the main hypothesis is that in the database of pieces of conversation that include non-literal questions directed to children, clue existence enhances the comprehension of the non-literal meaning (hence the correct answers given), the results of the study have shown that it’s not the case and it is the nature of the clue not the existence that is determining.