The acquisition of Arabic language comprehension by Saudi children
Studies of spoken Arabic language comprehension in children are few. This research obtained data on the developmental patterns, rate and order of acquisition of the comprehension of some morpho-syntactic structures for Saudi children as a basis for a criterion-referenced test. The structures tested were chosen from data collected by studying Saudi Child Directed Speech (CDS), similar Tests in English and from linguistic knowledge of Arabic structures. The CDS sample was collected from 12 Saudi fathers conversing with their children (8 boys and 4 girls) aged 2;4 to 5;6 years. This data was analysed in terms of the vocabulary, structure and function used. Saudi fathers were found to use discourse function used by parents speaking other languages when addressing their children but in different frequencies. Fathers' language complexity was found to increase as their children got older. The comprehension of morpho-syntactic structures by Saudi children was tested through a language comprehension test that was designed for the purpose of this research. The test consisted of sixty three pictures testing twenty-one morpho-syntactic structures and six miniature toys to test children's comprehension of three structures.
Al-Akeel, Abdulrahman Ibraheem
Language acquisition
The acquisition of Arabic language comprehension by Saudi children. Studies of spoken Arabic language comprehension in children are few. This research obtained data on the developmental patterns, rate and order of acquisition of the comprehension of some morpho-syntactic structures for Saudi children as a basis for a criterion-referenced test. The structures tested were chosen from data collected by studying Saudi Child Directed Speech (CDS), similar Tests in English and from linguistic knowledge of Arabic structures. The CDS sample was collected from 12 Saudi fathers conversing with their children (8 boys and 4 girls) aged 2;4 to 5;6 years. This data was analysed in terms of the vocabulary, structure and function used. Saudi fathers were found to use discourse function used by parents speaking other languages when addressing their children but in different frequencies. Fathers' language complexity was found to increase as their children got older. The comprehension of morpho-syntactic structures by Saudi children was tested through a language comprehension test that was designed for the purpose of this research. The test consisted of sixty three pictures testing twenty-one morpho-syntactic structures and six miniature toys to test children's comprehension of three structures.
acquisition arabic_language comprehension saudi child studies speak arabic_language comprehension child few obtain data developmental pattern rate order acquisition comprehension morpho_syntactic structure saudi child basis criterion referenced test structure test choose data_collect study saudi child directed speech cds similar tests english linguistic_knowledge arabic structure cds sample collected saudi father converse child boys girl age data_analyse term vocabulary structure function use saudi father find use discourse function use parent speak_language address child different_frequency fathers language complexity find increase child get old comprehension morpho_syntactic structure saudi child test language_comprehension test_design purpose research test consist picture test twenty morpho_syntactic structure miniature test child comprehension structure