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The emergence of present perfect verb forms: semantic influences on selective imitation*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Cynthia J. Johnson
Cynthia J. Johnson
Affiliation:
University of Illinois
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Abstract

This study investigates forms and functions of the perfect in 22 preschool children. Children retold and re-enacted two-sentence stories which modelled the perfect. Although the perfect appeared to be emerging in imitative speech, including certain ungrammatical forms, children varied in the extent to which they used it and appreciated its meaning of current relevance. Three factors were found to influence children's selective imitation and paraphrasing of the perfect: form of the verb (present perfect versus perfect progressive), semantic sense of the perfect, and duration of the lexical verb. Children's performance demonstrates the need to consider not only the developmental frequency of advanced, optional verb forms but the generality of their use and their relation to the child's lexicon.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 1985 , pp. 325 - 352
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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