| COST Reference Number | Period |
| COST-STSM-IS1306-17657 | 2014-07-01 to 2014-07-14 |
The aim of the present STSM proposal is to examine typical narrative and lexical development of Polish immigrant children in the UK acquiring English language (aged 4;6-6;5).
The project will include an analysis of macrostructure (story complexity and coherence) and microstructure (cohesion on the level of lexis, morphology and syntax) of narratives produced by children. Additionally, children’s receptive and productive vocabulary in both languages will be measured with the use of standardized tests.
The Polish-English immigrants’ results on the story structure and the use of mental state verbs will be contrasted with those of Polish monolingual children matched for age (already tested). The between-group analyses will include (1) comparing the micro- and macrostructure of narratives produced by Polish monolinguals brought up in Poland and Polish children living in the UK, and (2) examining the quantity and quality of mental state terms used by Polish monolinguals and Polish-English immigrants.
Planned number of children to be tested: 15-20 bilinguals. Each child will be tested in their two languages (Polish and English) during four sessions (approx. 4-5 hours).
Tests used in the study: Polish lexical tests (Picture Vocabulary Test, Picture Naming Task), English lexical tests (BPVS II, EVT-2), Raven\`s progressive matrices to test child’s intelligence (non-verbal), Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (in Polish and in English), Reflection on Thinking Task (in child’s dominant language).
The research is led by a member of Working Group 2 (Immigrants), data obtained during the research will be used by the WG2.
Host: Prof. Jean-Marc Dewaele, Birkbeck University of London, UK
