Question form analysis in discourse agreement between a mother and a language-learning child

This study analyzed the question form used in discourse between a mother and her language-learning child. Spontaneous taped data of mother-child interactions were collected at three different time periods. Initially the child was 2;3 and data collection stopped at 2;5. Analysis of dialogue units based on protocols of discourse proposed by Mishler (1974) was conducted. Results indicated that question chaining occurred most frequently in discourse, followed by arching, then embedding. All question forms except one were initiated by the mother. Evidence also indicated that the subject did not have the linguistic competence of allwh-question forms by 2;5. This study indicated that question chaining was the most frequent type of discourse analysis with this dyad.