Analyzing Mothers' Use of Chinese Idioms (Chengyu) in Natural Home Settings

• In Event: Section 1a, Poster Session 1. Literacy: Literacy Processes and Practices

Abstract

Idioms are the important components in all languages. In child language, most studies were experimental and examined the factors that can account for idiom comprehension. Very few studies shed light on children’s exposure to idioms in natural settings. This observational study focuses on mothers’ use of Chinese idioms to preschoolers in two home settings: shared book reading and dinnertime conversations, and analyzed the semantical transparency, familiarity, and context of the idioms. Participants were 33 Chinese mothers and their 3-to-5-year-old preschoolers. We found mothers used more Chinese idioms in shared book reading, and the idioms were semantically transparent, familiar, and used in various contexts. We discussed the academic language nature of Chinese idioms and offered implications for parents.

Authors

• Junyi Yang, University of Oslo

• Vibeke Grøver, University of Oslo

• Joshua Fahey Lawrence, University of Oslo