The Language Patterns of Preschool Children in the Computer Environment

Abstract

This article describes the language patterns of eight preschool students in a computer environment. Videotaped interactions at the computer center were analyzed to examine the nature of the verbal interaction that took place among peers. Using Halliday's functional framework, the authors found that regulatory was the most popular language pattern, followed by heuristic and representational. The results of this study reveal the scope and variety of preschool children's language in the computer environment and may help early childhood educators understand how preschool children use language to interact with each other.