The linguistic exploration of children : playing with language through computer programming

Abstract

Children's intuitions about the grammar of their language are resources which children can use to leverage understanding of formal grammatical concepts. In this thesis, I demonstrate how the Logo programming environment can be used to encourage and support children's intuitive explorations in the domain of formal linguistics. Computer programming was used to create a meaningful context in which formal grammatical concepts were introduced to children through the engagement and mobilization of their linguistic intuitions. To initially engage and mobilize children's linguistic intuitions, I made a computer program in which children could play at using their intuitions about the English language to figure out the basis of a turtle character's linguistic judgments. In the context of working to understand how my program was made, children arrived at a meaningful understanding of the formal linguistic concepts I had used to construct my computer program. Furthermore, children personally appropriated the formal linguistic concepts for the purpose of modifying my original program and making their own computer programs about language.