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The conversations recorded for this study were transcribed and coded according to the conventions laid out in the Manual for Use of the CHAT Transcription Coding System of the Child Language Data Exchange System (MacWhinney, 1988). The edition used was that dated 24 March 1988. The reasons for the choice of this system are given in 3.4.5.a. To facilitate the reading of the transcripts in Appendix B, a key to the main features of the CHAT coding system used in the transcripts is given below. 1. UTTERANCE DELIMITERS The main line codes a single turn (3.4.6.b). The end of each utterance within a turn is marked by an utterance delimiter. Period (Full Stop) . A period marks the end of an unmarked (declarative) utterance. (Periods are eliminated from abbreviations.) Question ? The question mark indicates the end of a question. Exclamation ! An exclamation point marks the end of an utterance which carries emphatic sentential stress. Interruption [\] This symbol is used for an utterance which is incomplete because another speaker begins talking or some event occurs causing the speaker to break off. Self-interruption without retracing [///] This symbol is used when a speaker starts to say something, stops, then continues on a completely different subject. Trailing off [...] The trailing off marker is the delimiter for an incomplete but not interrupted utterance.
2. PAUSES [#] This symbol indicates a pause by the speaker. The length of the pause in seconds can be indicated as follows [# .5]
3. CODES FOR DIFFICULT MATERIAL Unintelligible speech xxx Only one xxx is used even if the transcriber can distinguish the number of unintelligible words or utterances. Conversationally meaningful non-verbal turn O. (see 3.4.6.b) Untranscribed material www MacWhinney states that this symbol can be used when a speaker says something which has no relevance to the interactions taking place and which "the experimenter would rather ignore" (p. 14). In the current study it is used: a) for a small number of instances where children play together for a short period with little or mainly unintelligible speech (eg between Turn 181 and Turn 1a2 in the transcripts of Child A). b) for non-verbal turns which are not conversationally meaningful (3.4.6.b) but which are included because they provide information helpful in following the transcript (such as a change in location by one of the participants). 4. SCOPED SYMBOLS These symbols are enclosed in square brackets and can be used to refer either to single words or to stretches of speech directly preceding the symbols. A stretch of speech referred to by a scoped symbol is enclosed in angle brackets. If no angle brackets are used, the scoped symbol refers only to the single word preceding it. Quotation Mark ["] This symbol marks the presence of a direct quotation by a speaker, or the performance of the role of a character. Its main role in the current study is to indicate that the speaker is talking for a puppet. Example: 078*CO-: was that a good story? <yes. yes.>["] now you can go off to swing on the swing. Guess in transcription [?] Emphatic stress [!] Overlap follows <text> [overlap>] Overlap precedes <text> [<overlap] Retracing without correction [/] Retracing with correction [//] Example: 037*COF: I was going to give him <a> [//] the hat. <I'll give him> [//]I'll show him the hat. 5. DEPENDENT TIERS Dependent tiers are lines typed below the main line and contain additional information relevant to the main line. This information includes a number of codes relating to features such as intonation and gesture. % par paralinguistic features. This tier describes vocal qualities and vocalizations, such as laughing, crying and whispering. When a paralinguistic feature occurs at a specific point in the turn it can be placed in square brackets at that point. Example: 033*BYF: a
digger! [laughs] If the paralinguistic feature occurs across the turn the relevant section should be enclosed in angle brackets and a separate tier should be used. % int intonation and prosody This tier describes qualities of pitch, amplitude and duration, rhythmicality and tempo. %act actions This tier describes people doing something. %gpx gestures, proxemics Gestures are actions (such as nodding, pointing or shrugging) which serve as language substitutes or accompaniments. Proxemics refers to the distance between speakers and also to the physical orientation of individuals with respect to other people or objects. %add addressee This tier indicates who is being spoken to. % com comments by investigator/transcriber In the current study this tier is used to record instances of unestablished referent.
6. SCOPING CONVENTIONS FOR DEPENDENT TIERS Scoping symbols allow the dependent tier to refer to a specific utterance, phrase, word, segment, or any point on the main line. <bef> refers to the point before the turn on the main line. <aft> refers to the point after the turn on the main line. <4> refers to the fourth word of the main line <2-4> refers to the second to fourth word of the main line. <1u> refers to the first utterance on the main line. <2u4> refers to the fourth word of the second utterance of the main line. <2u.> refers to the point after the second utterance on the main line. <.2u> refers to the point before the second utterance on the main line. <1u6-3u1> refers to the section from the sixth word of the first utterance to the first word of the third utterance. 7. INTERACTIONAL MARKERS
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