The development of modality in greek and english child language
Francesca Cangeri / Rosanna Cangeri
Numerous studies concerning the acquisition of modality in first language have been
published. Linguists have carried out many experimental and longitudinal studies in order to find out how the modality category develops in child language.
To obtain straight-forward results researcher practice pilot studies with children subjects. This method has proved to be effective for the gathering of useful data about the development of modality. The comparison and the studies of the obtained results should help to give a clear-cut insight into the ontogenesis of modality.
This term paper reports about an experimental and longitudinal study of the development of modality of Greek children realized by the linguist Ursula Stephany.
Further an analysis of the acquisition of modality of American English speaking children has been done in order to compare the differences and the common characteristics of the development of modality in two distinct languages.
Before starting to observe the process of modality development I will give a brief introduction on modality and on its sub-types. The latter play an important role for the understanding of the process of modality acquisition.
The term paper's chapter about modality is based on Frank Palmer's Mood and Modality.
