Investigating Literacy and Pre‐literacy Skills in Panjabi/English Schoolchildren

Abstract

The acquisition of literacy in bilingual children is, as yet, a relatively under‐researched field, but one of crucial importance to all involved in education. In this paper we present interim results from a study which investigates the literacy and pre‐literacy skills, in particular phonological awareness skills, of a group of Panjabi/ English schoolchildren. We give an initial picture of the children's phonological awareness skills in both languages and then make a preliminary attempt to identify links between ability in particular aspects of phonological awareness across both languages and English literacy. Our results indicate that assessment of pre‐literacy skills in bilingual children is useful only if carried out in both of the children's languages.