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Li H., Tse S.K., Wong M.S., Wong C.M. and Leung S.O.(2013). The Development of Interrogative Forms and Functions in Early Childhood Cantonese, First Language, 32(2), 161-181. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142723713479422.

幼兒中文

Title

The Development of Interrogative Forms and Functions in Early Childhood Cantonese

Journal

First Language

Year

2013

Vol

Vol. 32
No. 2
pp161-181

Author

Hui LI, Shek Kam TSE, Jessie Ming Sin WONG, Eileen Chin Mei WONG, Shing On LEUNG

Abstract

This study investigated question acquisition in Cantonese-speaking young children with a focus on the development of interrogative forms and functions. Data from a child Cantonese corpus (492 children aged 36, 48 and 60 months) were analysed. The main results were that: (1) all the interrogative forms and functions were produced by the three age groups and no age difference was found; (2) significant gender differences in favour of females were found; and (3) a significant form-function preference was obtained, with wh- and multiple questions being primarily used to seek information, and yes/no and rising tone/echo questions being largely used to request action.

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