Chapter published in:
Narrative, Literacy and Other Skills: Studies in intervention
Edited by Edy Veneziano and Ageliki Nicolopoulou
[Studies in Narrative 25] 2019
► pp. 201–222

Chapter 9
Precursors of narrative abilities

Non-present talk, temporality development and topic elaboration in early parent-child interaction

| University of Amsterdam
| University of Stellenbosch
| University of Amsterdam

It is important to pinpoint precursors that predict later narrative skills. This study explores and attempts to clarify the role of three aspects assumed to be relevant for later narrative abilities. Data of three middle class Dutch children are analyzed. The design combines the assessment of narrative abilities at age seven with the analysis of spontaneous parent-child interaction between the ages of 1;9 and 3;9. Results suggest specific relationships between on the one hand parental verbal behavior in non-present talk (NPT) and one facet of narrative abilities, that is narrative productivity; and on the other hand between child factors, such as initiating behavior and early temporality development, and another facet of narrative abilities: complex narrative language. The study suggests implications for working with children with a language delay such as using NPT to elicit child initiatives in NPT, and stimulate children’s topic elaboration.

Keywords: precursors, narrative abilities, parent-child interaction, non-present talk
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Method
  • Results
    • Narrative abilities at age seven
    • Development of NPT between age 1;9 and 3;9 in relation to narrative abilities at age seven
    • Development of the expression of temporality between 1;9 and 3;9 in relation to narrative abilities at age seven
    • Topic elaboration in relation to narrative abilities at age seven
  • Discussion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 06 May 2019
https://doi.org/10.1075/sin.25.10bla
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