Technonanny blog 61
Imaginative play
One of Halliday’s seven functions suggested for child language is the
imaginative function: telling stories and jokes, creating imaginary worlds, etc.
Comment on the children’s use of language for this function.
CONTEXT: Louise’s (aged 5.1) American cousin Lanna (5.10) has come for a short visit. They haven’t met for a year. [See transcripts of Lanna and Lu playing witches the previous year.]
Technonanny has taken the two girls to a playground in their grandmother’s village. There are all sorts of adventure playground equipment – a ‘zip’ swing, a bridge and climbing frames, as well as ‘baby’ swings. T has put the voice recorder in Louise’s pocket. This is the first of several hours’ play.
Rough transcript
T: we could play the monster game or troll game I might get pictures of you
Lu: can’t we just play
T: or just play yeah
[break to cut muffled noises]
Lu: can I have a go at that zip thing so I can do it even gooder
T: what rip thing sure let me put my things …
[]
Lu: don’t know about that bu-ut… if I was 6 I could be older than my friend
Lanna: they won’t come in the baby swing
Lu: hey watch do you want me to to push you (laughs) you’re like my kid
(baby sound)
Lu: OK let’s do this
Lanna: let’s do this ??
[]
Lu: Hey let’s play monsters and you’re the monster
T: I’m not sure if I want to be a monster
Lanna: I’m just ? real ?? head in
Lu: could somebody get me out
mm hmm
Lanna: ?? jump
T: Hurray
Lanna: ?? my baby
Lu: you need to be the monster under the bridge
T: well I might have to collect all my stuff in a minute
[]
Lu: I’m gonna be Dora and you’re Lisa
Lanna ?? older ought to be but ?? wasn’t born yet (6) and I kept it a secret the troll
Lu: gram!
Lanna: I have a baby
T: ??
Lanna: shall I eat try and eat it no no no mamma?? trickin em wow that’s a long way
Lu: I can do it
Lanna: well what if monster gets my baby ?? troll
Lu: well what if I carry it and ?? do it at the same time
Lanna: ?? stay on ??
[]
Lanna: why do you have a phone in your pocket why do you have this in your pocket
Lu: my gran said I need it
Lanna: why may I see it what is it for
Lu: it’s to film you and me () you’re not getting your stuff you’re phoning somebody
Lanna: pretend baby ?? pretend a troll grabbed her ??
Lu: no how about pretend an invisible troll got me you go under the bridge
T: I don’t want to go under the bridge …
Lanna: Dora watch out a troll’s under there an invisible troll ( 2) pretend he got you
LU: no pretend I was too fast
Lanna: yeah me too
Lu: pretend I …
Lanna: Hi Dora
Lu: come on get under the bridge
Lanna: OK baby wants to ?? baby school
Lu: but it’s too low (6) Lisa what if she just went (3) come on there it is
(bridge squeaking ?sounds)
Lu: come on get under the bridge
T: where is Lanna
Lu: she’s just dropping baby at her baby school (12) well can’t you just play the real game
Lanna: OK
Lu: get under the bridge (5) you need to say ( ) no you don’t put your hands I’m not
sposed to see you (4) I’m not sposed to hear you or see you (6) maybe it’s the
other way
Lanna: yeah (11) I’m going over there see my baby
Lu: OK (11)
Lu: and that troll is a meany baby
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