Cameron-Faulkner Thea, Lieven Elena, Theakston Anna
Linguistics and English Language, School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, MI3 9PL, UK.
J Child Lang. 2007 May;34(2):251-82. doi: 10.1017/s0305000906007884.
The study investigates the development of English multiword negation, in particular the negation of zero marked verbs (e.g. no sleep, not see, can't reach) from a usage-based perspective. The data was taken from a dense database consisting of the speech of an English-speaking child (Brian) aged 2;3-3;4 (MLU 2.05-3.1) and his mother. The focus of the study was the emergence and usage of negators in the child's and mother's speech (e.g. no, not, can't, won't, don't). Two analyses were conducted: firstly, the emergence and usage of all negators in Brian's speech and in the input were calculated in order to present an overall picture of negator usage across the sample. The findings indicate a gradual and systematic development of negator selection in Brian's speech which follows the trajectory no-not-'nt. The pattern of negator emergence was found to follow the frequency of negators in the input; that is negators used frequently in the input were the first to emerge in the child's speech. Secondly, a more fine-grained analysis of utterances containing negated zero marked verbs (neg V utterances) was conducted on both the child's and mother's speech. In the first instance the development of negator selection for all neg V utterances was calculated. The results indicated the same no-not-'nt cline as attested in the initial analysis. A function-based analysis of neg V utterances was also conducted which indicated that the speed of movement across the no-not-'nt cline varied from one function to the next. A function-based analysis of the input suggested that the speed at which Brian moved across the cline within a particular function could be traced to function-based frequency effects in the input. Thus the findings of the study indicate function-based, input-driven learning which is consistent with the usage-based approach. However the findings also indicate creative learning on the part of the child from the earliest stages of multiword negation.
本研究从基于用法的视角调查了英语多词否定的发展情况，尤其关注零标记动词的否定形式（如no sleep、not see、can't reach）。数据取自一个密集数据库，该数据库包含一名2岁3个月至3岁4个月（平均语句长度为2.05 - 3.1）的英语儿童（布莱恩）及其母亲的讲话。研究重点是儿童和母亲讲话中否定词的出现及用法（如no、not、can't、won't、don't）。进行了两项分析：首先，计算布莱恩讲话及输入语料中所有否定词的出现及用法情况，以便呈现整个样本中否定词用法的总体情况。研究结果表明，布莱恩讲话中否定词的选择呈现出逐渐且系统的发展，遵循no - not - 'nt的轨迹。发现否定词出现的模式遵循输入语料中否定词的频率；也就是说，输入语料中频繁使用的否定词最先出现在儿童讲话中。其次，对儿童和母亲讲话中包含否定零标记动词的语句（否定动词语句）进行了更细致的分析。首先计算了所有否定动词语句中否定词选择的发展情况。结果表明与初步分析中证实的no - not - 'nt梯度相同。还对否定动词语句进行了基于功能的分析，结果表明在no - not - 'nt梯度上移动的速度因功能不同而有所差异。对输入语料的基于功能的分析表明，布莱恩在特定功能内跨越该梯度的速度可追溯到输入语料中基于功能的频率效应。因此，该研究结果表明是基于功能、输入驱动的学习，这与基于用法的方法一致。然而，研究结果也表明儿童从多词否定的最早阶段就进行了创造性学习。
