Η επίδραση των γραμματικών, μορφολογικών και σημασιολογικών χαρακτηριστικών των λέξεων στα είδη ορισμού που παράγουν τα παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the ability to define words produced by preschool children, to define the preferred types of definitions for this age group, and to study the effect of the grammatical, morphological and semantic characteristics of words on the type of definition. The sample consisted of 33 preschoolers who were asked to define 16 words. The definitions were produced, recorded, and transcribed. Marinellie & Johnson (2002, 2004) Protocol was adopted for the coding and grading responses. Definitions were scored on a five-point scale along a continuum consistent that reflects the developmental path of the definitions. The highest score possible was 80 points. The processing of the survey data showed that the score of correct answers was low (22/80) since most of the answers were incorrect. Regarding to the type of definition, it was found that the majority of the answers was incorrect, followed immediately by the categories Correlation / Effect / Action and Tautology. Finally, with regard to the morphological, semantic and grammatical characteristics of words and their effect on the ability to define words, it was found that simple words are more easily defined than compounds; the specific nouns are more easily defined than abstract; and nouns are more easily defined than verbs and adjectives.