| Description |
1 online resource |
| Contents |
Preface; Acknowledgment; Contents; Abbreviations; List of Figures; List of Tables; 1 Introduction; Abstract ; 1.1 Background of Research; 1.2 Research Objectives; 1.3 Research Significance; 1.4 Research Progression; References; 2 Review of Literature; Abstract ; 2.1 Child Language Study on Mandarin; 2.1.1 Child Language Study on Mandarin in the International Academia; 2.1.1.1 Mandarin Lexical Competence of Chinese Children; 2.1.1.2 Mandarin Syntactic Competence of Chinese Children; 2.1.2 Child Language Study on Mandarin in Singapore; 2.1.2.1 Testing Approach |
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2.1.2.2 Naturalistic or Semi-naturalistic Language Analysis Approach2.1.2.3 Sociolinguistic Survey Approach; 2.2 Development of Bilingualism in Children; 2.2.1 Cognitive Aspect of Bilingual Development; 2.2.2 Linguistic Aspect of Bilingual Development; 2.2.3 Communicative Aspect of Bilingual Development; 2.3 Lexical Diversity; 2.4 Syntactic Complexity; 2.5 Code-Switching; 2.6 Summary; References; 3 Theoretical Perspectives and Analytical Framework; Abstract ; 3.1 Language Competence; 3.2 Theoretical Basis; 3.2.1 Language Input and Output; 3.2.2 Dynamic Systems Theory and Language Development |
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3.3 Continuum as a Framework3.4 Hypothetical Framework; References; 4 Research Methodology; Abstract ; 4.1 Data Source and Sample Demographics; 4.2 Unit of Measurement; 4.3 Processing Lexical Diversity; 4.4 Processing Syntactic Complexity; 4.5 Processing Code-Switching; 4.6 Data Description and Analysis; 4.7 Summary; References; 5 Mandarin Competences Measured by Lexical Diversity; Abstract ; 5.1 Main Concepts, Approach, and Hypothesis; 5.2 Number of Different Mandarin Words; 5.3 Lexical Variation (Root-TTR); 5.4 Word-Type Coverage on Parts-of-Speech |
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5.5 Coverage of First 500 Most Frequently Used Words5.5.1 Overview of the First 500 Most Frequently Used Words; 5.5.2 Home Language Group Comparison of the First 500 Words; 5.6 Summary; References; 6 Mandarin Competence Measured by Syntactic Complexity; Abstract ; 6.1 Main Concepts, Approach, and Hypothesis; 6.2 Number of Mandarin Utterances; 6.3 Syntactic Forms of Utterances; 6.4 Syntactic Features of Utterance; 6.4.1 Syntactic Features of Single Word Utterance; 6.4.2 Syntactic Features of Multiple Clause Utterance; 6.5 Mean Length Utterance (MLU); 6.6 Summary; References |
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7 Mandarin Competence Measured by Code-Switching TendencyAbstract ; 7.1 Main Concepts, Approach, and Hypothesis; 7.2 Frequency of Code-Switching; 7.3 Types of Code-Switching; 7.3.1 Inter-utterance Code-Switching; 7.3.2 Intra-utterance Code-Switching; 7.4 Types of Intra-utterance Code-Switching; 7.4.1 Alternation; 7.4.2 Insertion; 7.4.3 Congruent Lexicalization; 7.5 Common Linguistic Categories of Code-Switching; 7.6 Summary; References; 8 Conclusions and Implications; Abstract ; 8.1 Objectives, Hypotheses and Key Findings; 8.2 General Discussion; 8.3 Conclusion; 8.4 Implications |
| Summary |
This book provides readers with a detailed sketch of the Mandarin competence of Chinese children in Singapore from different home language backgrounds. Their Mandarin competence is defined in terms of lexical diversity, syntactic complexity and code-switching tendency. The findings presented show that there are statistical differences in lexical diversity and syntactic complexity among the compared groups of children, and these differences in linguistic competence were found to be positively correlated to increased Mandarin exposure at home. They also demonstrate that there are statistical differences in code-switching tendency among the groups of children compared, which were found to be negatively correlated to increased exposure to Mandarin at home. A general relationship between home language exposure and Mandarin competence was established, although this relationship was found to be volatile, especially among children who are more bilingually exposed. This book shares these findings with linguists, language educators, and language policymakers, both local and international |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Bilingualism in children -- Singapore
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LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- General.
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Bilingualism in children
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Singapore
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9811022259 |
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9789811022258 |
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9789811022234 |
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9811022232 |
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