DDL keywords

Within the framework of studies of the impact of specificities of the language addressed to children by the adult (Sampson 1989, Goldberg 1995, Leiven et al, 1997, O’Grady 1997, Tomasello & Brooks, in press, Cartwright & Brent 1997) this research operation is currently exploring grammatical constructions containing verbs in French motherese and in children’s early productions. Two factors make French an interesting test case: 1) word order in spoken French is quite variable; 2) grammatical objects, when replaced by object clitics, move to preverbal position. The data consist of bi-monthly audio-video recordings of 8 French-speaking recorded during interaction with their mothers. The study begins when the children are 12 months and will continue until they reach 36 months.