Pragmatic factors in children's phrasal coordination

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study of children's conjunction reduction contrasted the syntactic view of forward and backward deletion of base structure elements with the idea that pragmatic factors of situational redundancy and perceptual grouping account for conjunction reduction. Ninety-four children described an action sequence (putting differently coloured beads into a cup) so that a listener positioned behind a screen could repeat them. Half the children communicated as the action was being carried out (SIMULTANEOUS condition), mitigating against perceptual grouping of beads in the cup. Half communicated after the action was completed (POST condition), permitting perceptual grouping. Backward deletion was more frequent in the post than in the simultaneous condition. Also, the overall high frequency of forward deletion reflected encoding of novelty and omission of repetitive elements. These results suggest syntax is pragmatically motivated.