Uppeldi og menntun - 01.09.2004, Qupperneq 33

HRAFNHILDUR RAGNARSDÓTTIR
ABSTRACT
The main goal of this research was to explore Icelandic children's language narrative
proficiency just before they start school and the range of individual variation. The 165
children (age-range 5;3-5;10; M=5;6) were videotaped telling an elicited narrative
("the frogstory"). Their CHAT-transcribed productions were analyzed in terms of
scene-setting, main plot-components and cohesion. Overall results confirm the
developmental profile of an earlier, smaller-scale Icelandic study (Ragnarsdóttir,
1992). Typical five-year-olds do not tell a proper story in this context and use few and
simple cohesion methods. Individual variation, however, is extensive. Productions
ranged from deictic picture descriptions (lowest 15-20%) typical for 3-year-olds in
earlier studies, to complex hierarchically structured and cohesive narratives (top
15-20%), typical for 7- and even 9-year-olds in the 1992-study. Significant difference
was observed between three subgroups: Hi-25%, Mid-50% and Low-25% on number
of plot elements, length as well as on the proportion and types of cohesive devices
used by the children. Results are discussed in terms of their educational implications.
Hrafnhildur Ragnarsdóttir er
prófessor við Kennaraháskóla íslands
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