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Prefix versus suffix information processing in the comprehension of tense and aspect*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Richard M. Weist
Richard M. Weist
Affiliation:
State University of New York and Adam Mickiewicz University
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Abstract

This research evaluated the Polish child's capacity to comprehend aspect and tense distinctions realized by either prefixation or suffixation. Ten 2; 6 and ten 3; 6 children were given a picture–sentence matching task. Aspect picture sets contrasted completed with incompleted situations and sentences contrasted perfective with imperfective verbs differing by a prefix or a suffix. Tense picture sets portrayed either ongoing vs. anticipated action or results of action vs. anticipated action contrasts. Again sentences differed in verb forms either by prefixes or suffixes. The results showed that young children can pay attention to the beginnings of words as easily as to the ends of words and can understand a wide range of aspect and tense distinctions.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1983 , pp. 85 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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Footnotes

[*]

This research was supported by the SUNY Research Foundation, the Fulbright Program and the Polish Academy of Science. The following research assistants tested and recorded the children: Hanna Wysocka, Katarzyna Witkowska-Stadnik, Ewa Buczowska, Emilia Konieczna, Ewa Domżalska, Zofia Baranowska, Katarzyna Niezabitowska-Handke and Jolanta Stawicka. I would also like to thank my Polish colleagues for their encouragement and cooperation. Address for correspondence: Department of Psychology, SUNY College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063.

References

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