Language function framework for describing bilingual children's communicative functions in home settings¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 4 claims (4 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 4 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The study applies "a language function framework" to provide "a descriptive analysis of the communicative functions performed by these children." It organizes analysis of home language use around the functions children perform and how their proficiency level, the interlocutors, and their home settings may influence their language use. Data sources include English and heritage language proficiency assessments, interviews with children and their mothers, and multiple video recordings of home interactions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Multiple data sources: proficiency assessments, child and mother interviews, and video recordings of home interactions

Constraints¶

• Descriptive analysis of a small sample of 20 second-generation children ages 6-8 from Mexican and Korean immigrant families in the United States

Target Learners¶

• second-generation immigrant children ages 6-8

Target Learning Objectives¶

• heritage language maintenance and bilingual communicative development

Claims¶

• Bilingual Children Home Language Mainly Factual Functions [+M]
• Limited Proficiency Children Creative Communicative Workarounds [+M]
• Mexican American More Heritage Language Than Korean American [+M]
• Rare Intersentential Code Switching Home [+M]

Related Theories¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Jin Sook Lee, Jane Y. Choi, Laura Marqués-Pascual. (2016). An Analysis of Communicative Language Functions in the Speech Patterns of Bilingual Korean and Mexican Immigrant Children. Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research, vol. 5, no. 2. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/an-analysis-of-communicative-language-functions-in-the-speech-patterns-of-bilingual-korean