Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-h4f6x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-23T00:46:07.665Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What does the child mean? A critique of the ‘functional’ approach to language acquisition*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Hazel Francis
Hazel Francis
Affiliation:
Institute of Education, University of London
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The attribution of function of various kinds to elements of child speech is discussed, and the question of the validity of the interpretations on which such attribution rests is explored with reference to Halliday's work on the development of meaning. Work in the philosophy of language is used to explore the kind of evidence needed for valid interpretation, and its systematic nature within a framework of the structure of linguistic behaviour. It is argued that theoretical clarity in this area would aid the study of both language use and language acquisition.

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1979 , pp. 201 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Bates, E. (1976). Language and context: the acquisition of pragmatics. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bennett, J. (1976). Linguistic behaviour. Cambridge: C.U.P.Google Scholar
Bruner, J. S. (1978). From communication to language: a psychological perspective. In Markova, I. (ed.), The social context of language. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Dore, J. (1975). Holophrases, speech acts and language universals. JChLang 2. 21–40.Google Scholar
Dore, J. (1978). Conditions for the acquisition of speech acts. In Markova, I. (ed.), The social context of language. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Grice, H. P. (1957). Meaning. PhilosRev 66. 377–88.Google Scholar
Halliday, M. A. K. (1973). Explorations in the functions of language. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Halliday, M. A. K. (1975). Learning hovi to mean: explorations in the development of language. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Searle, J. R. (1971). What is a speech act ? In Searle, J. R. (ed.), The philosophy of language. London: O.U.P.Google Scholar