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A test of metaphoric comprehension and some preliminary developmental data*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Marilyn R. Pollio  and
Howard R. Pollio
Marilyn R. Pollio
Affiliation:
Maryville College, The University of Tennessee
Howard R. Pollio
Affiliation:
Maryville College, The University of Tennessee
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Abstract

The purposes of the present study was to develop a multiple-choice test of figurative language comprehension and to evaluate the development of such comprehension over a wide range of ages and children. To do this, samples of novel and frozen figures were selected from a corpus provided by elementary school children and then administered to 149 different children between 9 and 14 years. Results showed that the test produced was a reliable one, and one that produced meaningful developmental trends. In addition, differences were noted between the comprehension and production of novel and frozen figures of speech. These findings were discussed in terms of their methodological and developmental implications.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , February 1979 , pp. 111 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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Footnotes

[*]

A portion of the present data was presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Meetings, April 1977 in Miami Beach, Florida. The authors would like to thank James D. Pickens, Marilla Davis, John Henson, and Jeff Page for their help in this study.

References

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