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Article published In:
Written Language & Literacy
Vol. 22:1 (2019) ► pp.131–159

The development of adverbial clause functions in Hebrew narrative and expository writing across adolescence

| Tel Aviv University
| Tel Aviv University

Interclausal subordination, serving various functions in written discourse, has been studied mostly from a quantitative perspective in later language development. The current study applied a discourse-functional approach to a quantitative and qualitative examination of subordinate Adverbial Clauses (ACs) in Hebrew writing development.

Analysis targeted narrative and expository texts, written by Hebrew speaker-writers in grades 4, 7, 11, and university students. Adverbial clauses were counted, and classified according to function. In narratives, they delineated either plotline events, surrounding descriptions, or subjective interpretations. Expository ACs served to enlarge on the current argument, anchor new arguments in previous discourse, or move on, initiating a new topic.

Narrative ACs had similar prevalence across development, but shifted functionally, favoring interpretive roles in older writers. Expository ACs retained their enlarging-on and anchoring functions, while decreasing in quantity, parallel to an increase in alternative, clause-internal devices. The study underscores the usefulness of a functionally-oriented perspective in revealing developmental changes in the syntax-discourse interface.

Keywords: Hebrew, adverbial clauses, discourse functions, writing development, narrative, expository
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Adverbials
    • 1.2Adverbial Clauses in syntactic subordination
    • 1.3Discourse functions of adverbial subordination
    • 1.4Adverbial clauses in writing development
    • 1.5Aims
  • 2.Method
    • 2.1Participants and materials
    • 2.2Categories of analysis
      • AC prevalence
      • AC functions
    • 2.3Statistical analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1AC prevalence
    • 3.2AC functions
      • Narrative
      • Expository
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Prevalence of adverbial clauses
    • 4.2AC functions across genres in development
      • 4.2.1Narratives
        • 4.2.1.1Eventive ACs
        • 4.2.1.2Descriptive ACs
        • 4.2.1.3Interpretive ACs
      • 4.2.2Expositories
        • 4.2.2.1Moving-on ACs
        • 4.2.2.2Enlarging-on ACs
        • 4.2.2.3Anchoring ACs
    • 4.3Clause-internal alternatives to anchoring ACs: Further analyses
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 20 November 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wll.00022.bra
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